Regulation of Nutrient Transport across the Placenta

Figure 2

Placental function is likely regulated by numerous factors of fetal, maternal, and placental origin. Fetal signals affecting placental function include IGF-II and PTHrp. The effects of maternal factors, including adipokines, hormones, and nutrient levels, on placental function have been investigated in various models such as cultured trophoblast cells, placental explants, and perfused placenta. The placenta also expresses a wide array of molecules which are released into both fetal and maternal circulations. These substances may impact on the placenta itself in an autocrine/paracrine fashion. Integration of numerous, and sometimes divergent, signaling by intracellular regulatory pathways such as mTOR, PPAR, and STAT has been demonstrated to affect placental nutrient transport.