title: Role of the Placental Vitamin D Receptor in Modulating Feto-Placental Growth in Fetal Growth Restriction and Preeclampsia-Affected Pregnancies.
abstract: Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is a common pregnancy complication that affects up to 5% of pregnancies worldwide. Recent studies demonstrate that Vitamin D deficiency is implicated in reduced fetal growth, which may be rescued by supplementation of Vitamin D. Despite this, the pathway(s) by which Vitamin D modulate fetal growth remains to be investigated. Our own studies demonstrate that the Vitamin D receptor (VDR) is significantly decreased in placentae from human pregnancies complicated by FGR and contributes to abnormal placental trophoblast apoptosis and differentiation and regulation of cell-cycle genes in vitro. Thus, Vitamin D signaling is important for normal placental function and fetal growth. This review discusses the association of Vitamin D with fetal growth, the function of Vitamin D and its receptor in pregnancy, as well as the functional significance of a placental source of Vitamin D in FGR. Additionally, we propose that for Vitamin D to be clinically effective to prevent and manage FGR, the molecular mechanisms of Vitamin D and its receptor in modulating fetal growth requires further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash UniversityMelbourne, VIC, Australia; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash UniversityMelbourne, VIC, Australia; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of MelbourneMelbourne, VIC, Australia; Department of Maternal-Fetal Medicine Pregnancy Research Centre, The Royal Women's HospitalMelbourne, VIC, Australia; The Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical ResearchMelbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Padma
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Murthi
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of MelbourneMelbourne, VIC, Australia; Department of Maternal-Fetal Medicine Pregnancy Research Centre, The Royal Women's HospitalMelbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Hannah E J
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Yong
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of MelbourneMelbourne, VIC, Australia; Department of Maternal-Fetal Medicine Pregnancy Research Centre, The Royal Women's HospitalMelbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Thy P H
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Ngyuen
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash UniversityMelbourne, VIC, Australia; The Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical ResearchMelbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Stacey
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ellery
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash UniversityMelbourne, VIC, Australia; The Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical ResearchMelbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Harmeet
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash UniversityMelbourne, VIC, Australia; The Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical ResearchMelbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Rahana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rahman
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash UniversityMelbourne, VIC, Australia; The Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical ResearchMelbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Hayley
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dickinson
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash UniversityMelbourne, VIC, Australia; The Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical ResearchMelbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash UniversityMelbourne, VIC, Australia; The Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical ResearchMelbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Miranda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Davies-Tuck
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash UniversityMelbourne, VIC, Australia; The Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical ResearchMelbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Euan M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Wallace
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Peter R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Ebeling
keywords: VDR; fetal growth restriction; placental transport; trophoblast