Extracellular vesicles as markers and mediators of pregnancy complications: gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia, preterm birth and fetal growth restriction

In high income countries, approximately 10% of pregnancies are complicated by pre-eclampsia (PE), preterm birth (PTB), fetal growth restriction (FGR) and/or macrosomia resulting from gestational diabetes (GDM). Despite the burden of disease this places on pregnant people and their newborns, there are still few, if any, effective ways of preventing or treating these conditions. There are also gaps in our understanding of the underlying pathophysiologies and our ability to predict which mothers will be affected. The placenta plays a crucial role in pregnancy and alterations in placental structure and function have been implicated in all of these conditions. As extracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged as important molecules in cell-to-cell communication in health and disease, recent research involving maternal- and placental-derived EVs (pEVs) has demonstrated their potential as predictive and diagnostic biomarkers of obstetric disorders. This review will consider how placental and maternal EVs have been investigated in pregnancies complicated by PE, PTB, FGR and GDM and aims to highlight areas where further research is required to enhance the management and eventual KF and MK – Medical Research Council (MRC) New Investigator Grant awarded to KF (REF:MR/R023166/1)