Preliminary evidence of a paternal-maternal genetic conflict on the placenta: Link between imprinting disorder and multi-generational hypertensive disorders.

There has been great research progress on hypertensive disorders in pregnancy (HDP) in the last few decades. Failure of placentation, especially a lack of uterine spiral artery remodeling, is the main pathological finding of HDP. Currently, members of the vascular endothelial growth factor family are used as markers for the early prediction of onset of HDP. Epidemiologic research has also shown that HDP can have effects on the next generation infants, representing a Development Origins of Health and Disease-related disease. However, the precise pathogenic mechanism and the effect of HDP on the offspring remain unclear. The group of strong pro-inflammatory molecules known as "danger signals" have been shown to be released from the placental trophoblast surface and increase in the maternal circulation in HDP, which are then possibly transported into the fetal circulation. These signals, including fatty acids or adipocytokines, may alter the offspring's health in later life. Moreover, a hypoxic condition alters placental methylation, and the change may be passed onto the fetus. Although the genetic origin of the disease is still unknown, a hypothesis has been put forward that a paternal-maternal genetic conflict, mainly at imprinting lesion sites, may be a key factor for disease initiation. In particular, an imbalance in paternal and maternal factors may impede proper placentation, trophoblast invasion, decidualization or immune moderation so as to achieve better nutrition for the fetus (paternal) versus ensuring safe delivery and further pregnancy (maternal). Here, we review this research progress on HDP and focus on this novel genetic conflict concept, which is expected to provide new insight into the cause, pathophysiology, and multi-generational effects of HDP.

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