Secretion of placental peptide hormones: functions and trafficking

The placenta is a dynamic endocrine organ that plays a crucial role in fetal development by secreting a diverse array of peptide hormones that regulate maternal and fetal physiology. These hormones, including human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), human placental lactogen (hPL), and placental growth ho...

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Main Authors: Sadia M. Ahmadi, Maira L. Perez, Carlos M. Guardia
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Endocrinology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2025.1584303/full
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author Sadia M. Ahmadi
Maira L. Perez
Carlos M. Guardia
author_facet Sadia M. Ahmadi
Maira L. Perez
Carlos M. Guardia
author_sort Sadia M. Ahmadi
collection DOAJ
description The placenta is a dynamic endocrine organ that plays a crucial role in fetal development by secreting a diverse array of peptide hormones that regulate maternal and fetal physiology. These hormones, including human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), human placental lactogen (hPL), and placental growth hormone (hPGH), among others, are essential for pregnancy maintenance, fetal growth, and metabolic adaptation. Dysregulation of the secretory machinery and the levels of these hormones in circulation is associated with a myriad of pregnancy-related disorders. Despite their significance, the mechanisms governing their intracellular trafficking and secretion remain incompletely understood. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the secretion pathways of placental hormones, highlighting the interplay between constitutive and regulated secretion, and the challenges in defining these mechanisms due to the unique structure of the syncytiotrophoblast. We also discuss how emerging technologies, such as 2D and 3D placental models and advanced protein trafficking assays, can provide deeper insights into the regulation of placental hormone secretion. Understanding these processes will not only enhance our knowledge of placental biology but also provide new avenues for diagnosing and treating pregnancy-related disorders.
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spelling doaj-art-bfa1e3aff48e45058ae3df68f707d55c2025-08-20T02:23:05ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Endocrinology1664-23922025-06-011610.3389/fendo.2025.15843031584303Secretion of placental peptide hormones: functions and traffickingSadia M. AhmadiMaira L. PerezCarlos M. GuardiaThe placenta is a dynamic endocrine organ that plays a crucial role in fetal development by secreting a diverse array of peptide hormones that regulate maternal and fetal physiology. These hormones, including human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), human placental lactogen (hPL), and placental growth hormone (hPGH), among others, are essential for pregnancy maintenance, fetal growth, and metabolic adaptation. Dysregulation of the secretory machinery and the levels of these hormones in circulation is associated with a myriad of pregnancy-related disorders. Despite their significance, the mechanisms governing their intracellular trafficking and secretion remain incompletely understood. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the secretion pathways of placental hormones, highlighting the interplay between constitutive and regulated secretion, and the challenges in defining these mechanisms due to the unique structure of the syncytiotrophoblast. We also discuss how emerging technologies, such as 2D and 3D placental models and advanced protein trafficking assays, can provide deeper insights into the regulation of placental hormone secretion. Understanding these processes will not only enhance our knowledge of placental biology but also provide new avenues for diagnosing and treating pregnancy-related disorders.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2025.1584303/fullhuman placentapeptide hormonessecretionpregnancycell biology
spellingShingle Sadia M. Ahmadi
Maira L. Perez
Carlos M. Guardia
Secretion of placental peptide hormones: functions and trafficking
Frontiers in Endocrinology
human placenta
peptide hormones
secretion
pregnancy
cell biology
title Secretion of placental peptide hormones: functions and trafficking
title_full Secretion of placental peptide hormones: functions and trafficking
title_fullStr Secretion of placental peptide hormones: functions and trafficking
title_full_unstemmed Secretion of placental peptide hormones: functions and trafficking
title_short Secretion of placental peptide hormones: functions and trafficking
title_sort secretion of placental peptide hormones functions and trafficking
topic human placenta
peptide hormones
secretion
pregnancy
cell biology
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2025.1584303/full
work_keys_str_mv AT sadiamahmadi secretionofplacentalpeptidehormonesfunctionsandtrafficking
AT mairalperez secretionofplacentalpeptidehormonesfunctionsandtrafficking
AT carlosmguardia secretionofplacentalpeptidehormonesfunctionsandtrafficking