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Molecular and Cellular Research in Pregnancy-Related Complications, 2nd Edition

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Pathology, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 October 2025) | Viewed by 13069

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Guest Editor
Department of Biochemistry, Medical University-Pleven, 5800 Pleven, Bulgaria
Interests: extracellular matrix; pregnancy loss; thrombophilia; polymorphism; biomaterials; stem cells
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Reproductive complications, maternal and fetal morbidity, and mortality are common attributes of non-favorable pregnancies. The detection of at-risk pregnancies in early gestation is a challenging task for developing corrective and curative strategies.

Biomarkers in maternal circulation have been explored to evaluate risk in early pregnancy, but thus far, they are only reliable for the diagnostics of rather limited pregnancy complications.

Recent studies highlight the role of systemic and placental oxidative stress as an essential factor in the etiology of early pregnancy losses. Trophoblast invasion under low-oxygen conditions and hypoxia-induced oxidative stress are important regulators of the physiological development of the placenta and embryo in early pregnancy. Nonetheless, when oxidative stress exceeds the normal physiological level in the maternal–fetal environment, orchestrated by blood cell damage, accelerated senescence and early eryptosis, complications such as miscarriage, pre-eclampsia and limited intrauterine development may occur.

The imbalance of immune tolerance at the maternal–fetal interface is another important factor in the occurrence of pregnancy loss. The immunologic events at the maternal–fetal interface in early pregnancy are complex, involving numerous immune cells and molecules.

A promising approach for investigation of the placenta and placental–fetus interaction comes from the fact that trophoblast cells could migrate from the placenta into the reproductive tract, and could then be collected and separated from maternal cells for the analysis of fetal proteins, DNA, RNA and other informative molecules.

This Special Issue aims at expanding the current knowledge on the structural and behavioral imbalance of peripheral and endometrial immune cells, red blood cells, trophoblasts, decidual cells and stem cells in pregnancy-related complications. Experimental studies and reviews are welcome for submission.

More published papers can be found in the closed Special Issue “Molecular and Cellular Research in Pregnancy-Related Complications”.

Prof. Dr. Regina Komsa-Penkova
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • pregnancy loss/miscarriage
  • pregnancy complications
  • pre-eclampsia
  • maternal–placental–fetal interactions
  • trophoblast
  • immune cells
  • immune tolerance
  • red blood cells
  • oxidative stress
  • blood and fetal proteins
  • DNA
  • RNA
  • stem cells

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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10 pages, 377 KB  
Article
Functional MPO Polymorphisms and Haplotypes Affect Both Myeloperoxidase Levels and Association with Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy
by Daniela Alves Pereira, Marcelo Rizzatti Luizon, Ricardo Carvalho Cavalli, Jose Eduardo Tanus-Santos and Valéria Cristina Sandrim
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(15), 7071; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26157071 - 23 Jul 2025
Viewed by 689
Abstract
Preeclampsia (PE) shares common pathophysiological mechanisms with cardiovascular diseases, including endothelial dysfunction and exacerbated inflammatory response. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) has been suggested as a biomarker for cardiovascular risk, and its circulating levels are contradictory in PE. Elevated levels of MPO can promote host tissue [...] Read more.
Preeclampsia (PE) shares common pathophysiological mechanisms with cardiovascular diseases, including endothelial dysfunction and exacerbated inflammatory response. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) has been suggested as a biomarker for cardiovascular risk, and its circulating levels are contradictory in PE. Elevated levels of MPO can promote host tissue damage and trigger vascular injury. MPO gene polymorphisms affect circulating MPO levels under different conditions. To date, no studies have investigated whether MPO polymorphisms influence MPO levels in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. In this study, we examined the impact of two specific MPO polymorphisms—rs2243828 and rs2071409—and their associated haplotypes on MPO levels. We also explored their potential association with gestational hypertension (GH) and preeclampsia (PE). Our study included 136 healthy pregnant women (HP), including 118 with GH and 140 with PE. Genotyping was performed using TaqMan allele discrimination assays, and MPO levels were quantified using an ELISA assay. The TT genotype of the rs2243828 polymorphism was associated with lower MPO concentration in GH, and the CC genotype presented a higher frequency in the GH group than the HP group. The AC+CC rs2071409 polymorphism was associated with lower MPO concentration in GH. We also found that the ‘C, C’ haplotype was less frequent and was associated with lower MPO concentration in PE. Our findings suggest that both rs2243828 and rs2071409 polymorphisms might contribute to MPO levels in GH and that the haplotype ‘C, C’ formed by them may protect against PE. Full article
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17 pages, 3334 KB  
Article
Alterations in P-glycoprotein Expression in the Placenta of Obese Rats and Humans
by Péter Szatmári, Kata Kira Kemény, Andrea Surányi, Yakov Rachamim and Eszter Ducza
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(14), 6976; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26146976 - 20 Jul 2025
Viewed by 761
Abstract
Obesity affects approximately 30% of pregnancies worldwide and is one of the leading metabolic disorders among pregnant women. Maternal obesity is often associated with placental dysfunction and structural alterations, which increase the risk of developing complications. Efflux transporters, including P-glycoprotein (P-gp), may impact [...] Read more.
Obesity affects approximately 30% of pregnancies worldwide and is one of the leading metabolic disorders among pregnant women. Maternal obesity is often associated with placental dysfunction and structural alterations, which increase the risk of developing complications. Efflux transporters, including P-glycoprotein (P-gp), may impact placental function and fetal development. Consequently, our research examined the effects of obesity on P-glycoprotein expression in both a rat model and human placental tissue. P-gp expression was measured by RT-PCR and Western blot techniques in human and rat placental tissues. Moreover, we further characterized the high-fat and high-sugar diet (HFHSD)-induced gestational obesity rat model by measuring tissue weights. Significant decreases were observed in fetal, placental, and uterus weights in the obese animals near the end of pregnancy. In obese rats, mRNA and protein expression of placental P-gp showed a reduction on gestation days 15, 20, and 22. A similar P-gp reduction was observed in the term placenta in obese women in mRNA and protein levels. We hypothesize that the reduced expression of P-gp may heighten the susceptibility of both the fetus and placenta to P-gp substrates. This alteration could potentially result in an increased risk of pregnancy complications and obesity-related drug contraindications linked to P-gp transport during pregnancy. Full article
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Review

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22 pages, 2611 KB  
Review
Exploring Potential Biomarkers in Recurrent Pregnancy Loss: A Literature Review of Omics Studies to Molecular Mechanisms
by Lan Li and Kwang-Hyun Baek
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(5), 2263; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26052263 - 4 Mar 2025
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3819
Abstract
Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is characterized by the occurrence of three or more consecutive spontaneous pregnancy losses before 20–24 weeks of gestation. Despite significant progress in the investigation of the biological pathways associated with unexplained RPL, the precise molecular mechanisms remain elusive. Recent [...] Read more.
Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is characterized by the occurrence of three or more consecutive spontaneous pregnancy losses before 20–24 weeks of gestation. Despite significant progress in the investigation of the biological pathways associated with unexplained RPL, the precise molecular mechanisms remain elusive. Recent advances in multi-omics approaches have identified numerous biomarkers that offer potential avenues for understanding the underlying complexities of RPL. The aim of this comprehensive literature review was to investigate the functional roles of these candidate markers and explore the possible key mechanisms that may contribute to RPL. We also aimed to elucidate the functional networks predicted by omics analyses, which hold promise for providing invaluable insights into novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for women experiencing RPL. Furthermore, this review expands on clinical implications and possible applications, highlighting those currently moving towards clinical use and ongoing studies developing in this direction. Full article
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35 pages, 3354 KB  
Review
Oxidative Stress and Placental Pathogenesis: A Contemporary Overview of Potential Biomarkers and Emerging Therapeutics
by Ioana Vornic, Victor Buciu, Cristian George Furau, Pusa Nela Gaje, Raluca Amalia Ceausu, Cristina-Stefania Dumitru, Alina Cristina Barb, Dorin Novacescu, Alin Adrian Cumpanas, Silviu Constantin Latcu, Talida Georgiana Cut and Flavia Zara
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(22), 12195; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms252212195 - 13 Nov 2024
Cited by 24 | Viewed by 6933
Abstract
Oxidative stress (OS) plays a crucial role in placental pathogenesis and pregnancy-related complications. This review explores OS’s impact on placental development and function, focusing on novel biomarkers for the early detection of at-risk pregnancies and emerging therapeutic strategies. We analyzed recent research on [...] Read more.
Oxidative stress (OS) plays a crucial role in placental pathogenesis and pregnancy-related complications. This review explores OS’s impact on placental development and function, focusing on novel biomarkers for the early detection of at-risk pregnancies and emerging therapeutic strategies. We analyzed recent research on OS in placental pathophysiology, examining its sources, mechanisms, and effects. While trophoblast invasion under low-oxygen conditions and hypoxia-induced OS regulate physiological placental development, excessive OS can lead to complications like miscarriage, preeclampsia, and intrauterine growth restriction. Promising OS biomarkers, including malondialdehyde, 8-isoprostane, and the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio, show potential for the early detection of pregnancy complications. Therapeutic strategies targeting OS, such as mitochondria-targeted antioxidants, Nrf2 activators, and gasotransmitter therapies, demonstrate encouraging preclinical results. However, clinical translation remains challenging. Future research should focus on validating these biomarkers in large-scale studies and developing personalized therapies to modulate placental OS. Emerging approaches like extracellular vesicle-based therapies and nanomedicine warrant further investigation for both diagnostic and therapeutic applications in pregnancy-related complications. Integrating OS biomarkers with other molecular and cellular markers offers improved potential for the early identification of at-risk pregnancies. Full article
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