title: Vitamin D deficiency and impaired placental function: potential regulation by glucocorticoids?
abstract: Maternal vitamin D deficiency has been implicated in a range of pregnancy complications including preeclampsia, preterm birth and intrauterine growth restriction. Some of these adverse outcomes arise from alterations in placental function. Indeed, vitamin D appears critical for implantation, inflammation, immune function and angiogenesis in the placenta. Despite these associations, absence of the placental vitamin D receptor in mice provokes little effect. Thus, interactions between maternal and fetal compartments are likely crucial for instigating adverse placental changes. Indeed, maternal vitamin D deficiency elicits changes in glucocorticoid-related parameters in pregnancy, which increase placental and fetal glucocorticoid exposure. Asin uteroglucocorticoid excess has a well-established role in eliciting placental dysfunction and fetal growth restriction, this review proposes that glucocorticoids are an important consideration when understanding the impact of vitamin D deficiency on placental function and fetal development.
authors.affiliation: School of Animal Biology.
authors.forename: Nathanael
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yates
authors.affiliation: School of Human SciencesThe University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.
authors.forename: Rachael C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Crew
authors.affiliation: School of Human SciencesThe University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia caitlin.wyrwoll@uwa.edu.au.
authors.forename: Caitlin S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Wyrwoll
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000209:etiology*; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D010920:Placenta / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids