Pathophysiology of placentation abnormalities in pregnancy-induced hypertension

Review

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Authors: Mitsuko Furuya, Junji Ishida, Ichiro Aoki, Akiyoshi Fukamizu

Published Date November 2008 Volume 2008:4(6) Pages 1301 - 1313

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/VHRM.S4009

Mitsuko Furuya¹, Junji Ishida^2,3, Ichiro Aoki¹, Akiyoshi Fukamizu^2,3

¹Department of Pathology, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama 236-0004, Japan; ²Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences; ³Center for Tsukuba Advanced Research Alliance (TARA), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305-8577, Japan

Abstract: During embryogenesis and development, the fetus obtains oxygen and nutrients from the mother through placental microcirculation. The placenta is a distinctive organ that develops and differentiates per se, and that organizes fetal growth and maternal condition in the entire course of gestation. Several life-threatening diseases during pregnancy, such as pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) and eclampsia, are closely associated with placental dysfunction. Genetic susceptibilities and poor placentation have been investigated intensively to understand the pathophysiology of PIH. It is currently thought that “poor placentation hypothesis”, in which extravillous trophoblasts fail to invade sufficiently the placental bed, explains in part maternal predisposition to this disease. Cumulative studies have suggested that hypoxic micromilieu of fetoplacental site, shear stress of uteroplacental blood flow, and aberrantly secreted proinflammatory substances into maternal circulation synergistically contribute to the progression of PIH. For example, soluble form of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 (sVEGFR-1) and soluble form of CD105 are elevated in circulation of PIH mothers. However, it remains to be poorly understood the pathological events in the placenta during the last half of gestation as maternal systemic disorders get worse. For better understanding and effective therapeutic approaches to PIH, it is important to clarify pathological course of PIH-associated changes in the placenta. In this review, current understanding of placental development and the pathophysiology of PIH placenta are summarized. In addition, recent findings of vasoactive signalings in PIH and rodent PIH models are discussed.

Keywords: pregnancy-induced hypertension, preeclampsia, placenta, neovascularization, intrauterine growth restriction, transgenic mice, renin – angiotensin-system