title: Association of fetal but not maternal P-glycoprotein C3435T polymorphism with fetal growth and birth weight, a possible risk factor for cardiovascular diseases in later life.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The multidrug transporter P-glycoprotein (PGP) is expressed in the human placenta. In particular the C3435T ABCB1 polymorphism was associated with altered tissue expression of PGP in the human placenta. However, the potential functional impact of this polymorphism on the offspring is unknown so far.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed the impact of the ABCB1/C3435T polymorphism on fetal growth in 262 mother/child pairs. Fetal growth was assessed by differential ultrasound examination of the fetal body prior to birth and by measuring birth weight.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The maternal ABCB1/C3435T polymorphism showed no trend for an association with birth weight or any ultrasound parameter describing late gestational fetal body shape. Genotyping the newborns, however, demonstrated that newborns carrying two copies of the T allele had a birth weight of 3176.39 g, whereas CT and CC newborns had a birth weight of 3345.04 g (p = 0.022). Adjusting for gestational age at delivery, child's gender, maternal BMI, maternal age and body weight at delivery confirmed this finding (p = 0.009). Considering gestational day of late ultrasound examination, gestational age at delivery, child's gender, maternal BMI, maternal age and maternal body weight at delivery, the fetal ABCB1/C3435T genotype revealed likewise a significant negative correlation with abdominal diameter and abdominal circumference (R2 = 0.538, p = 0.010 and R2 = 0.534, p = 0.005, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low birth weight may be a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases in later life. The fetal ABCB1/C3435T gene polymorphism may contribute to this risk. Since PGP controls transport of various biological agents, we suggest that PGP is involved in the transport of biological agents to the fetus that are important for normal fetal growth.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine, Medical College of Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410006, China.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zi-Neng
authors.initials: ZN
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: You-Peng
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yun-Peng
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Xiao-Min
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Berthold
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hocher
mesh_terms: D018435:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B; D020168:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1 / Q000235:genetics*; D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000235:genetics*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development / Q000235:genetics*; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism*; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal
chemical_list: C513055:ABCB1 protein, human; D018435:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B; D020168:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1