An important function of the human placenta is to protect the fetus from detrimental substances in maternal blood, such as glucocorticoids or toxins. Placental membrane-bound transporter proteins, known as multidrug resistance proteins, protect the fetus by returning unwanted materials to the maternal circulation. Now, researchers from the University of Toronto report that bacterial and viral infections differentially influence these transporter proteins in early and late pregnancy, … Continue reading Study identifies transporter proteins responsible for human’s placenta protective ability during pregnancy.