title: PP031. The fetal cholesterol acceptor potential in cord sera of intrauterine growth restricted (IUGR) neonates.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The fetal umbilical cord blood cholesterol concentration is lower in IUGR neonates as compared to gestational age matched controls (CTRL). One possible explanation is an alteration of cholesterol acceptor concentration or functionality and a disturbed interaction with reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) mechanisms at the placentofetal interface.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study receptor specific mechanisms of RCT in response to fetal sera of IUGR and CTRL neonates.
  
  
  METHODS
  Different cell lines were used to determine the fractional efflux of (3)H-cholesterol in response to whole fetal serum (IUGR n=25; CTRL n=25) in the absence or presence of ABCA1 overexpression. Efflux values were correlated to serum concentrations of possible cholesterol acceptors like HDL, apoA1, and apoE.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The main finding was a significant over all reduction of fractional cholesterol efflux in response to IUGR serum as compared to CTRL (p<0.001). The differences were abolished after overexpression of ABCA1. Cholesterol efflux over all was highly correlated to HDL and ApoE concentration (n˜=0.777 and n˜=0.60).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The reduced cholesterol efflux acceptor capacity appears to diminish cholesterol availability and transplacental cholesterol transport to IUGR fetuses. Moreover, disturbances of RCT are involved in the pathomechanisms of atherosclerosis. Our results represent a link between the known association of being born small for gestational age and risk of developing CVD later in life.
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Pecks
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hirshman
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mohaupt
authors.forename: Dietmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schlembach
authors.forename: Nicolai
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Maass
authors.forename: Werner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Rath
authors.forename: Genevève
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Escher