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Human Placental Lactogen in Relation to Maternal Metabolic Health and Fetal Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Human placental lactogen (hPL) is a placental hormone which appears to have key metabolic functions in pregnancy. Preclinical studies have putatively linked hPL to maternal and fetal outcomes, yet—despite human observational data spanning several decades—evidence on the role and importance of this hormone remains disparate and conflicting.

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 Metabolic associations of human placental lactogen in pregnancies at high metabolic risk: An observational cohort study

Maternal hPL may play a role in maternal metabolic adaptation to pregnancy, particularly in relation to glucose and leptin dynamics. hPL in late pregnancy is positively associated with infant birthweight in women with GDM.

Articles of Interest

Human Placental Lactogen Physiological Role in Pregnancy

The important functions of HPL probably centres around the preparation for lactation, the sparing of glucose for fetal needs and the promotion of steroidogenesis. Which of these functions is the primary role of HPL remains to be determined.

Placental lactogen

Placental lactogen, also known as human chorionic somatomammotropin (hPL), plays a central role in adapting maternal metabolism during pregnancy by promoting nutrient partitioning that favors fetal supply while maintaining maternal energy balance. Produced by the placental syncytiotrophoblast, hPL rises progressively from early gestation, reaching peak concentrations of 5–7 μg/mL by the third trimester, and exerts its effects primarily through binding to prolactin receptors with some affinity for growth hormone receptors, sharing structural homology with these hormones. This facilitates insulin antagonism and mobilization of alternative fuels, contributing to the physiological insulin resistance observed in late pregnancy.[1]

Placental Lactogen as a Marker of Maternal Obesity, Diabetes, and Fetal Growth Abnormalities: Current Knowledge and Clinical Perspectives

Placental lactogen (PL) is a peptide hormone secreted throughout pregnancy by both animal and human specialized endocrine cells. PL plays an important role in the regulation of insulin secretion in pancreatic β-cells, stimulating their proliferation and promoting the expression of anti-apoptotic proteins. Cases of pregnancy affected by metabolic conditions, including obesity and diabetes, are related to alterations in the PL secretion pattern.

The roles of placental growth hormone and placental lactogen in the regulation of human fetal growth and development.

The human growth hormone (hGH)/human placental lactogen (hPL) gene family, which consists of two GH and three PL genes, is important in the regulation of maternal and fetal metabolism and the growth and development of the fetus. During pregnancy, pituitary GH (hGH-N) expression in the mother is suppressed; and hGH-V, a GH variant expressed by the placenta, becomes the predominant GH in the mother.