CD36: bridging metabolism, inflammation, and reproduction.

Reproductive success requires coordinated regulation of metabolism and inflammation across the ovary, uterus, and placenta. CD36 is a lipid transporter and innate immune receptor that couples fatty acid handling to lipid-inflammation crosstalk. We synthesize mechanistic evidence on how CD36 regulates oocyte competence, endometrial receptivity, and signaling at the maternal-fetal interface, and how its dysregulation contributes to gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and pregnancy loss, suggesting CD36 as a therapeutic target.