Differential expression of human placental neurotrophic factors in preterm and term deliveries.
Neurotrophic factors such as brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF) are involved in development of the placenta and fetal brain. A series of human and animal studies in our department have shown that micronutrients (folic acid, vitamin B12) and omega 3 fatty acids like DHA are all interlinked in the one carbon cycle. Any alterations in one carbon components will lead to changes in methylation patterns that further affect the gene expression at critical periods of development resulting in complications during pregnancy. This may further contribute to risk for neurodevelopmental disorders in children born preterm. Therefore this study for the first time examines the mRNA levels from preterm and term placentae. A total number of 38 women delivering preterm (<37 weeks gestation) and 37 women delivering at term (=>37 weeks gestation) were recruited. The mRNA levels of BDNF and NGF were analyzed by real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Our results indicate that BDNF and NGF mRNA levels were lower in preterm group as compared to term group. There was a positive association of placental BDNF and NGF mRNA levels with cord plasma BDNF and NGF levels. The differential expression of BDNF and NGF gene in preterm placentae may also alter the vascular development in preterm deliveries. Our data suggests that the reduced mRNA levels of BDNF and NGF may possibly be a result of altered epigenetic mechanisms and may have an implication for altered fetal programming in children born preterm.
Department of Nutritional Medicine, Interactive Research School for Health Affairs, Bharati Vidyapeeth University, Pune 411043, India.
Madhavi V
MV
Dhobale
Hemlata R
HR
Pisal
Savita S
SS
Mehendale
Sadhana R
SR
Joshi
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor
ADHD; BDNF; BMI; Brain derived neurotrophic factor; DEPC; DHA; Epigenetics; GAPDH; MAPK/ERK; Methylation; NGF; Nerve growth factor and placenta; PI3k; PKB; attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; body mass index; brain derived neurotrophic factor; diethyl pyrocarbonate; docosahexaenoic acid; glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase; mitogen-activated protein kinases/extracellular signal-regulated kinases; nerve growth factor; phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase pathway; protein kinase B