Cells, Vol. 12, Pages 1647: Hyperglycosylated-hCG: Its Role in Trophoblast Invasion and Intrauterine Growth Restriction

Cells, Vol. 12, Pages 1647: Hyperglycosylated-hCG: Its Role in Trophoblast Invasion and Intrauterine Growth Restriction

Cells doi: 10.3390/cells12121647

Authors: Catalin Gabriel Herghelegiu Alina Veduta Miruna Florina Stefan Stefania Lucia Magda Iuliana Ionascu Viorica Elena Radoi Daniela Nuti Oprescu Alina Mihaela Calin

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.