title: Expression and activity of 25-hydroxyvitamin D-1 alpha-hydroxylase are restricted in cultures of human syncytiotrophoblast cells from preeclamptic pregnancies.
abstract: The human placenta synthesizes 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) and expresses the vitamin D receptor. Because preeclampsia (PE) is associated with low circulating levels of maternal 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) and IGF-I, it is possible that alterations in calcium metabolism seen in PE could occur at the level of the fetoplacental unit. In this study, the patterns of gene expression and enzyme activity of 25-hydroxyvitamin D-1 alpha-hydroxylase (1 alpha-hydroxylase) and the abundance of IGF-I mRNA in placentas from normal (NT) and PE-complicated pregnancies were investigated. Cultured syncytiotrophoblast cells from preeclamptic placentas had only one tenth the activity of 1 alpha-hydroxylase and did not respond to IGF-I, when compared with NT cultures. Similarly, the levels of 1 alpha-hydroxylase mRNA in syncytiotrophoblast cells from PE placentas under basal and IGF-I-stimulated conditions were significantly reduced. In contrast, IGF-I mRNA levels were found to increase during the differentiation process, with no differences between NT and PE cultures. These results support the role of placenta as a contributor to the abnormalities observed in calcium metabolism in PE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproductive Biology, National Institute of Medical Sciences and Nutrition Salvador Zubirán, México Distrito Federal, 14000, México.
authors.forename: Lorenza
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Díaz
authors.forename: Celeste
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Arranz
authors.forename: Euclides
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Avila
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Halhali
authors.forename: Felipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vilchis
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Larrea
mesh_terms: D015090:25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 1-alpha-Hydroxylase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000235:genetics; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D013250:Steroid Hydroxylases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D014316:Tritium; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology*
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014316:Tritium; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D013250:Steroid Hydroxylases; C406322:vitamin D 1-alpha hydroxylase; D015090:25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 1-alpha-Hydroxylase