The placenta is a vital, temporary organ during pregnancy that facilitates nutrient exchange, waste removal, and immune protection between the mother and her fetus. Beyond its physiological functions, recent research emphasized the placenta’s role in mediating epigenetic regulation, impacting both maternal and fetal health. Epigenetic refers to heritable changes in gene expression that do not involve alterations to the underlying DNA sequence, such as DNA methylation, histone modification, and non-coding RNA regulation. The interaction between environmental factors, genetic predispositions, and epigenetic mechanisms highlights the complexity of prenatal programming or developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD), suggested by Barker in the 1980s. At the heart of DOHaD is the placenta, a vital organ that not only supports fetal development, but also influences epigenetic modifications, with potential long-term implications for the individual’s health. This review explores the intersection between biology and epigenetic of the placenta and DOHaD, examining how placental modifications are able to influence pregnancy outcomes, fetal development, and long-term health.
The Placenta and the Development of Human Health
De Luca C.;Svelato A.
2025-01-01
Abstract
The placenta is a vital, temporary organ during pregnancy that facilitates nutrient exchange, waste removal, and immune protection between the mother and her fetus. Beyond its physiological functions, recent research emphasized the placenta’s role in mediating epigenetic regulation, impacting both maternal and fetal health. Epigenetic refers to heritable changes in gene expression that do not involve alterations to the underlying DNA sequence, such as DNA methylation, histone modification, and non-coding RNA regulation. The interaction between environmental factors, genetic predispositions, and epigenetic mechanisms highlights the complexity of prenatal programming or developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD), suggested by Barker in the 1980s. At the heart of DOHaD is the placenta, a vital organ that not only supports fetal development, but also influences epigenetic modifications, with potential long-term implications for the individual’s health. This review explores the intersection between biology and epigenetic of the placenta and DOHaD, examining how placental modifications are able to influence pregnancy outcomes, fetal development, and long-term health.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
