High polyunsaturated fatty acid, thromboxane A2, and alpha-fetoprotein concentrations at the human feto-maternal interface.
Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) like arachidonic (C20:4) and docosahexaenoic (C22:6) acids are essential for harmonious fetal development. This study evaluates, at near term, the distributions of free fatty acids (FFA) and their fetal carrier protein, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in the maternal (M) and fetal circulation (umbilical arteries (A) and vein (V)), focusing on the feto-material interface where maternal intervillous blood (I) contacts the fetal trophoblast. FFA concentrations in intervillous and maternal blood were similar, while those in umbilical arteries and vein were 2- to 4-fold lower (P < 0.001). There were more saturated FFA in umbilical vein (41%) and arteries (44%) blood than in maternal (30%) and intervillous (32%) blood (P < 0.001). Monounsaturated FFA predominated (P < 0.001) in maternal (43%) blood, but not in intervillous (35%), umbilical vein (33%) and arteries (31%) blood. Di-triunsaturated FFA were similar in intervillous and maternal (25%) blood and lower in umbilical vein and arteries (16%) (P < 0.001). PUFA were low in maternal (2.5%) blood and higher in intervillous and umbilical vein and arteries (9%, P < 0.001); consequently, C20:4 (40 microM) and C22:6 (16 microM) were the most abundant in the intervillous space. The AFP concentrations and AFP lectin-reactive isoforms were similar in intervillous and umbilical vein and arteries blood, but immuno-electrophoresis revealed a particular AFP conformation (less immuno-reactive, more anionic) in the intervillous space, suggesting that AFP is heavily loaded with PUFA at the feto-maternal interface. Prostacyclin derived from C20:4 was similar in all compartments but the thromboxane A2 concentration was 10-fold higher in intervillous blood than in maternal and umbilical vein and arteries blood. Thus the feto-maternal interface has a specific pattern of cell signalling molecules that might critically influence parturition.
Benassayag
C
C
INSERM U361 Maternité Baudelocque, Université René Descartes, Paris, France.
Mignot
T M
TM
Haourigui
M
M
Civel
C
C
Hassid
J
J
Carbonne
B
B
Nunez
E A
EA
Ferre
F
F
D001095:Arachidonic Acids / Q000097:blood; D001800:Blood Specimen Collection; D002824:Chorionic Villi / Q000378:metabolism; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000097:blood; D011464:Epoprostenol / Q000097:blood; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated / Q000097:blood; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000097:blood* / Q000145:classification; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007106:Immune Sera / Q000276:immunology; D007123:Immunoelectrophoresis, Two-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis; D013928:Thromboxane A2 / Q000097:blood*; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology
D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D007106:Immune Sera; D012709:Serum Albumin; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D013928:Thromboxane A2; D011464:Epoprostenol