Hyperglycosylated-hCG: Its Role in Trophoblast Invasion and Intrauterine Growth Restriction

卷:12

Article

关键词: HUMAN CHORIONIC-GONADOTROPIN;    FETAL-GROWTH;    EXTRAVILLOUS TROPHOBLASTS;    BETA;    PREGNANCY;    EXPRESSION;    CHORIOCARCINOMA;    1ST-TRIMESTER;    CANCER;    PATHOPHYSIOLOGY;   

DOI  :  10.3390/cells12121647

来源: SCIE

【 摘 要 】

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is produced by the placenta and its roles have been studied for over a century, being the first known pregnancy-related protein. Although its main role is to stimulate the production of progesterone by corpus luteal cells, hCG does not represent just one biologically active molecule, but a group of at least five variants, produced by different cells and each with different functions. The hyperglycosylated variant of hCG (H-hCG) plays a key role in trophoblast invasion, placental development and fetal growth. During trophoblast invasion, H-hCG promotes extravillous cytotrophoblast cells to infiltrate the decidua, and also to colonize and remodel the spiral arteries in to low resistance, larger-diameter vessels. As fetal growth is heavily reliant on nutrient availability, impaired trophoblast invasion and remodeling of the uterine arteries, leads to a defective perfusion of the placenta and fetal growth restriction. Understanding the function of H-hCG in the evolution of the placenta might unveil new ways to manage and treat fetal growth restriction.