title: Expression and immunolocalisation of the endocytic receptors megalin and cubilin in the human yolk sac and placenta across gestation.
abstract: Megalin and cubilin are multifunctional endocytic receptors associated with many transporting epithelia. They play an essential role in transport of nutrients through the visceral yolk sac of rodents during embryogenesis. Here, we immunolocalise them to the endodermal layer of the human yolk sac, and to the syncytiotrophoblast and cytotrophoblast cells of placental villi. In villi, the protein level of both receptors increased with gestation. The mRNA for megalin remained constant, while that encoding cubilin increased with gestation. These results suggest megalin and cubilin may be important in human maternal-fetal transfer, and that they increase across gestation to facilitate this function.
authors: Centre for Trophoblast Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
authors: K A
authors: KA
authors: Burke
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Jauniaux
authors: G J
authors: GJ
authors: Burton
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Cindrova-Davies
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002585:Cesarean Section; D004705:Endocytosis; D004707:Endoderm / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006801:Humans; D026561:Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Related Protein-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010920:Placenta / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D010929:Placentation; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D047929:Term Birth; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation; D015017:Yolk Sac / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D026561:Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Related Protein-2; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; C029486:intrinsic factor-cobalamin receptor
keywords: Cubilin; Endocytosis; Megalin; Transport; Yolk sac
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