Bedeutung der Molekularpathologie in der Geburtshilfe – Plazenta im Fokus

Background: Molecular pathways play an important role in the pathogenesis and clinical manifestation of placenta-associated diseases, such as preeclampsia (PE) or fetal growth restriction (FGR). Due to an impaired placentation resulting in a disturbed remodeling of the uterine spiral arteries and placental insufficiency, the humoral immune response causes the release or upregulation and downregulation of (anti)angiogenic proteins, microRNA originating from syncytiotrophoblasts, and interleukins. This leads (in the case of PE) to endothelial dysfunction, chronic inflammation, and the resulting characteristic clinical symptoms. Objective: In the field of obstetrics, some of the above mentioned molecular factors have found their way into everyday clinical routine. Some of the current studies and experimental approaches to treating PE and/or FGR also target specific processes within these molecular pathways. In this overview essential molecules and their clinical use in obstetrics are highlighted with a focus on the placenta (and here in particular PE/FGR).