title: Efflux transporters of the human placenta.
abstract: The use of pharmaceuticals during pregnancy is often a necessity for the health of the mother. Until recently, the placenta was viewed as a passive organ through which molecules are passed indiscriminately between mother and fetus. In reality, the placenta contains a plethora of transporters, some of which appear to be specifically dedicated to removal of xenobiotics and toxic endogenous compounds. Drug efflux transporters such as P-glycoprotein (P-gp), several multidrug resistant associated proteins (MRPs) and breast cancer resistant protein (BCRP) may provide mechanisms that protect the developing fetus. Bile acid transporters may also play a role in exporting compounds back into the maternal compartment. Steroid hormones directly influence the level of expression and function in some of these transporters. Investigating the link between the hormones of pregnancy and these drug efflux transporters is one possible key in developing strategies to deliver drugs to the mother with minimal fetal risk.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, The University of Kansas, 2095 Constant Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA.
authors.forename: Amber M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: Courtni E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: Kenneth L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Audus
mesh_terms: D020168:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D000070997:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 2; D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / Q000378:metabolism; D001647:Bile Acids and Salts / Q000378:metabolism; D001693:Biological Transport, Active; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D018432:Drug Resistance, Multiple; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006913:Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D027425:ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family C Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D045002:3-alpha-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase (B-Specific)
chemical_list: D020168:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1; D000070997:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 2; D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; D001647:Bile Acids and Salts; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D006913:Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D027425:ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family C Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; C116614:ABCG2 protein, human; C037643:bile acid binding proteins; C435496:AKR1C2 protein, human; D045002:3-alpha-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase (B-Specific)