About this Research Topic
The cardiovascular system is the direct connector between maternal and fetal health during pregnancy. This closed-loop network originates in the maternal heart, includes the placenta for exchange with the fetal compartment, from where the maternal blood returns via the maternal venous circulation. These interactions allow for the exchange of nutrients, gases, and waste during fetal development. The maternal cardiovascular system also permits transport of undesired chemicals and inflammatory mediators, which might impair fetal health. Poor blood quality, hypertension, or changes in the uteroplacental vasculature might reduce placental perfusion and ultimately impair fetal health. These physiological deficiencies might culminate in the onset of fetal cardiovascular disease. The relationship between the maternal environment and cardiovascular function and fetal health is still an emerging field.
In this Research Topic, we focus on a broad range of exposures and how they might interfere with cardiovascular function by:
- perturbing the maternal cardiovascular system and, in this way, compromise fetal development and, ultimately, fetal health -or-
- interfering with fetal development of the cardiovascular system
We here think of exposures in the broadest sense: external environmental exposures (e.g., ambient air pollution, heavy metals, vaping products, occupational exposures), pharmacological interventions (e.g., phosphodiesterase inhibitors), maternal disease (e.g., obesity, gestational diabetes, metabolic syndrome, anaemia, inflammation, nutritional deficits), and physiological perturbation (psychosocial stress, physical strain, circadian rhythm disturbances). These exposures may impair uteroplacental health culminating in maternal vascular dysfunction, hypertension/preeclampsia, or placental inefficiency. Further, the particles, chemicals, and metabolites associated with these maternal exposures may also translocate across the placenta from the maternal to the fetal compartment and culminate in direct interactions with fetal cardiovascular tissues. We invite basic research studies in vitro, ex and in vivo, epidemiological evaluations, reviews and meta-analyses.
In this Research Topic, we focus on a broad range of exposures and how they might interfere with cardiovascular function by:
- perturbing the maternal cardiovascular system and, in this way, compromise fetal development and, ultimately, fetal health -or-
- interfering with fetal development of the cardiovascular system
We here think of exposures in the broadest sense: external environmental exposures (e.g., ambient air pollution, heavy metals, vaping products, occupational exposures), pharmacological interventions (e.g., phosphodiesterase inhibitors), maternal disease (e.g., obesity, gestational diabetes, metabolic syndrome, anaemia, inflammation, nutritional deficits), and physiological perturbation (psychosocial stress, physical strain, circadian rhythm disturbances). These exposures may impair uteroplacental health culminating in maternal vascular dysfunction, hypertension/preeclampsia, or placental inefficiency. Further, the particles, chemicals, and metabolites associated with these maternal exposures may also translocate across the placenta from the maternal to the fetal compartment and culminate in direct interactions with fetal cardiovascular tissues. We invite basic research studies in vitro, ex and in vivo, epidemiological evaluations, reviews and meta-analyses.
Keywords: Cardiovascular, maternal, fetal, placenta, exposure
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