title: Caffeine suppresses the expression of the Bcl-2 mRNA in BeWo cell culture and rat placenta.
abstract: Chronic caffeine exposure during pregnancy has an effect on fetal growth; however, the adverse effects of caffeine on embryogenesis are not well understood and controversial. We used cDNA microarray technology to determine whether caffeine alters gene expressions in a human cytotrophoblast-like cell line, BeWo. We found that the expression of the B-cell CLL/lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) gene in BeWo cells was down-regulated by caffeine, suggesting that chronic exposure during the gestational period could exert an influence on embryogenesis. We then focused on the Bcl-2- and Bcl-2-associated X protein gene, Bax, to study the responsive gene expression in BeWo cells as well as placentas of pregnant rats fed a diet supplemented with caffeine (2 mg/100 g body weight) during gestation, and analyzed the gene expressions using LightCycler-based quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction assays. We found a significantly decreased level of Bcl-2 mRNA expression, which demonstrated the influence of caffeine on placental function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Nihon University School of Dentistry at Matsudo, 870-1, Sakae, Nishi-2, Matsudo, Chiba 271-8587, Japan.
authors.forename: Keiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nomura
authors.forename: Shigeno
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Kazuya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ide
authors.forename: Yoshikazu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kamino
authors.forename: Hiroshige
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sasahara
authors.forename: Tetsuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakamoto
authors.forename: Yoshimitsu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Abiko
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002110:Caffeine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002460:Cell Line; D017931:DNA Primers; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D010920:Placenta / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D002110:Caffeine