title: Maternal-fetal nutrient transport in pregnancy pathologies: the role of the placenta.
abstract: Appropriate in utero growth is essential for offspring development and is a critical contributor to long-term health. Fetal growth is largely dictated by the availability of nutrients in maternal circulation and the ability of these nutrients to be transported into fetal circulation via the placenta. Substrate flux across placental gradients is dependent on the accessibility and activity of nutrient-specific transporters. Changes in the expression and activity of these transporters is implicated in cases of restricted and excessive fetal growth, and may represent a control mechanism by which fetal growth rate attempts to match availability of nutrients in maternal circulation. This review provides an overview of placenta nutrient transport with an emphasis on macro-nutrient transporters. It highlights the changes in expression and activity of these transporters associated with common pregnancy pathologies, including intrauterine growth restriction, macrosomia, diabetes and obesity, as well as the potential impact of maternal diet. Molecular signaling pathways linking maternal nutrient availability and placenta nutrient transport are discussed. How sexual dimorphism affects fetal growth strategies and the placenta's response to an altered intrauterine environment is considered. Further knowledge in this area may be the first step in the development of targeted interventions to help optimize fetal growth.
authors.affiliation: Healthy Active Living and Obesity Research Group, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, 401 Smyth Rd., Ottawa, ON K1H 8L1, Canada. kebrett123@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Kendra Elizabeth
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Brett
authors.affiliation: Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Ottawa Hospital, 501 Smyth Rd., Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada. zach.ferraro@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Zachary Michael
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Ferraro
authors.affiliation: Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Cancer Centre, 501 Smyth Rd., Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada. jyockell@ohri.ca.
authors.forename: Julien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yockell-Lelievre
authors.affiliation: Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Ottawa Hospital, 501 Smyth Rd., Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada. zach.ferraro@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Andrée
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gruslin
authors.affiliation: Healthy Active Living and Obesity Research Group, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, 401 Smyth Rd., Ottawa, ON K1H 8L1, Canada. kadamo@cheo.on.ca.
authors.forename: Kristi Bree
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Adamo
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D051246:Glucose Transport Proteins, Facilitative / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D009765:Obesity / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D010920:Placenta / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D005227:Fatty Acids; D051246:Glucose Transport Proteins, Facilitative; D002784:Cholesterol; D005947:Glucose