title: Impact of maternal and neonatal iron status on placental transferrin receptor expression in pregnant adolescents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To elucidate the role of maternal and neonatal iron status on placental transferrin receptor (TfR) expression. STUDY DESIGN AND OUTCOMES: Ninety-two healthy pregnant adolescents (ages 14-18 years) were followed across pregnancy. Maternal iron status (hemoglobin, hematocrit, serum ferritin, TfR, and total body iron) was assessed in mid-gestation (21-25 wks) and at delivery in the mother and neonate. Placental TfR protein expression was assessed by western blot in placental tissue collected at delivery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Placental TfR expression was inversely associated with maternal iron status at mid-gestation (hemoglobin p = 0.046, R(2) = 0.1 and hematocrit p = 0.005, R(2) = 0.24) and at delivery (serum ferritin p = 0.02, R(2) = 0.08 and total body iron p = 0.02, R(2) = 0.07). Mothers with depleted body iron stores had significantly greater placental expression of TfR than mothers with body iron stores greater than zero (p = 0.003). Neonatal iron stores were also inversely associated with the expression of placental TfR (p = 0.04, R(2) = 0.06). Neonates with serum ferritin values ≤ 34 μg/L had significantly greater protein expression of placental TfR compared to neonates with cord serum ferritin values >34 μg/L (p = 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Expression of placental TfR is associated with both maternal and neonatal iron demands. Increased expression of placental TfR may be an important compensatory mechanism in response to iron deficiency in otherwise healthy pregnant women.
authors.affiliation: Cornell University, Division of Nutritional Sciences, Savage Hall 230, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pressman
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Foehr
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: McNanley
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Guillet
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Orlando
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: McIntyre
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lafond
authors.forename: K O
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: O'Brien
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry; D006400:Hematocrit; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007501:Iron / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D009929:Organ Size; D010920:Placenta / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011250:Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin / Q000378:metabolism*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron