Despite the well-known fact that the placenta has long-term effects on maternal and fetal
health, the placenta remains a poorly understood and understudied organ. Not only is the
placenta a site of exchange of nutrients and blood and gases between the fetal and
maternal systems, but it also performs critical metabolic functions for supporting fetal
development and maintaining maternal-fetal tolerance. It is also abundantly clear that
impairment of placental function leads to severe pregnancy complications, including preterm …