Placental changes with assisted reproductive technologies: Insights from the transcriptomic and proteomic profiling of multiple species

Assisted reproductive technology (ART), such as in vitro fertilization (IVF), is used to treat infertility in humans, in agriculture for animal production, and in wildlife preservation efforts. In humans, ART is known to be associated with increased risks and adverse outcomes in pregnancy for both mother and offspring, likely due to changes in placental development. Research using animal models as well as human tissue offers the opportunity to examine what placental changes are present in ART pregnancies to better understand the etiology of ART effects on pregnancy. Promising directions in research include both transcriptomic and proteomic studies to elucidate how specific gene and signaling pathways in the placenta may be altered with ART. This may allow us to develop treatment options to make ART pregnancies safer and more efficient. In this review of the literature, we will discuss the current knowledge from transcriptomic and proteomic studies of ART placentas in both animal and human pregnancies.