title: Modulation of fatty acid transport and metabolism by maternal obesity in the human full-term placenta.
abstract: Knowledge of the consequences of maternal obesity in human placental fatty acids (FA) transport and metabolism is limited. Animal studies suggest that placental uptake of maternal FA is altered by maternal overnutrition. We hypothesized that high maternal body mass index (BMI) affects human placental FA transport by modifying expression of key transporters. Full-term placentas were obtained by vaginal delivery from normal weight (BMI, 18.5-24.9 kg/m(2)) and obese (BMI > 30 kg/m(2)) women. Blood samples were collected from the mother at each trimester and from cord blood at delivery. mRNA and protein expression levels were evaluated with real-time RT-PCR and Western blotting. Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity was evaluated using enzyme fluorescence. In vitro linoleic acid transport was studied with isolated trophoblasts. Our results demonstrated that maternal obesity is associated with increased placental weight, decreased gestational age, decreased maternal high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels during the first and third trimesters, increased maternal triglyceride levels during the second and third trimesters, and increased maternal T3 levels during all trimesters, and decreased maternal cholesterol (CHOL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels during the third trimester; and increased newborn CHOL, LDL, apolipoprotein B100, and T3 levels. Increases in placental CD36 mRNA and protein expression levels, decreased SLC27A4 and FABP1 mRNA and protein and FABP3 protein expression, and increased LPL activity and decreased villus cytotrophoblast linoleic acid transport were also observed. No changes were seen in expression of PPARA, PPARD, or PPARG mRNA and protein. Overall this study demonstrated that maternal obesity impacts placental FA uptake without affecting fetal growth. These changes, however, could modify the fetus metabolism and its predisposition to develop diseases later in life.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Physiologie Materno-Fœtale, Département des Sciences Biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: Evemie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dubé
authors.forename: Ariane
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gravel
authors.forename: Coralie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Guillaume
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Desparois
authors.forename: Issa
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Moussa
authors.forename: Maude
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ethier-Chiasson
authors.forename: Jean-Claude
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Forest
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Giguère
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Masse
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lafond
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D001693:Biological Transport, Active; D018955:CD36 Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D000074026:Fatty Acid Binding Protein 3; D050612:Fatty Acid Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D050556:Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019787:Linoleic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008071:Lipoprotein Lipase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D008954:Models, Biological; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D047492:Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D018955:CD36 Antigens; D017931:DNA Primers; C493319:FABP1 protein, human; C493408:FABP3 protein, human; D000074026:Fatty Acid Binding Protein 3; D050612:Fatty Acid Transport Proteins; D050556:Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins; D005227:Fatty Acids; D006728:Hormones; D008055:Lipids; D047492:Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors; C493571:SLC27A4 protein, human; D019787:Linoleic Acid; C548261:LPL protein, human; D008071:Lipoprotein Lipase