title: Protein expression of fatty acid transporter 2 is polarized to the trophoblast basal plasma membrane and increased in placentas from overweight/obese women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Obese and overweight women are more likely to deliver a large infant or an infant with increased adiposity, however the underlying mechanisms are not well established. We tested the hypothesis that placental capacity to transport fatty acid is increased in overweight/obese women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pregnant women with body mass index (BMI) ranging from 18.4 to 54.3 kg/m(2) and with uncomplicated term pregnancies were recruited for collection of blood samples and placental tissue. Maternal and fetal levels of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs) were measured in plasma. The expression and localization of CD36/fatty acid translocase (FAT), fatty acid transport protein (FATP)2, and FATP4 was determined in fixed placental tissue and in isolated syncytiotrophoblast plasma membranes from normal and high BMI mothers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Maternal and fetal plasma NEFA levels did not correlate (n = 42). FATP2 and FATP4 expressions were higher in the basal plasma membrane (BPM) compared to the microvillous membrane (P < 0.001; n = 7) per unit membrane protein. BPM expression of FATP2 correlated with maternal BMI (P < 0.01; n = 30); there was no association between CD36/FAT or FATP4 expression and maternal BMI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The polarization of FATPs to the BPM will facilitate fatty acid transfer across the placenta. In overweight/obese pregnancies, the increased FATP2 expression could contribute to increased fatty acid delivery to the fetus and while we have no direct data we speculate that this could lead accelerated fetal growth or increased fat deposition.
authors.affiliation: Center for Pregnancy and Newborn Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA.
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lager
authors.affiliation: Center for Pregnancy and Newborn Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA.
authors.forename: Vanessa I
authors.initials: VI
authors.lastname: Ramirez
authors.affiliation: Center for Pregnancy and Newborn Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gaccioli
authors.affiliation: Center for Pregnancy and Newborn Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.affiliation: Center for Pregnancy and Newborn Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jansson
authors.affiliation: Center for Pregnancy and Newborn Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA. Electronic address: THERESA.POWELL@UCDenver.edu.
authors.forename: Theresa L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Powell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D018955:CD36 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism*; D003066:Coenzyme A Ligases / Q000378:metabolism*; D050612:Fatty Acid Transport Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D000098859:Long-Chain-Fatty-Acid-CoA Ligase
chemical_list: D018955:CD36 Antigens; D050612:Fatty Acid Transport Proteins; D005227:Fatty Acids; C493571:SLC27A4 protein, human; D003066:Coenzyme A Ligases; D000098859:Long-Chain-Fatty-Acid-CoA Ligase
keywords: CD36/FAT; FATP; Fatty acid transport; Placenta; Pregnancy