Obesity in pregnancy is associated with substantially increased risks for both mother and infant. The placenta plays a vital role in the regulation of foetal growth and development during pregnancy. However, placental phenotypes for maternal obesity have not been specifically studied. For this reason, Oliva et al. considered it of interest to determine the effect of pre-existing maternal obesity on the protein expression profiles of human placenta. They studied the protein expression profiles of placenta obtained from lean and obese pregnant women with normal glucose tolerance at the time of term Caesarean section.

Their study demonstrates that maternal obesity at conception affects the protein profile of human placenta, which may have implications for foetal growth and development. Proteomic analysis of placenta revealed differential expression of several proteins in patients with pre-existing obesity. These proteins are implicated in a variety of cellular functions such as regulation of growth, cytoskeletal structure, oxidative stress, inflammation, coagulation and apoptosis. These disturbances may have significant implications for foetal growth and development. Oliva et al. (2012) Journal of Molecular Endocrinology 48 139-149.

Read the full article at DOI:10.1530/JME-11-0123.