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Human placenta metabolizes fatty acids: implications for fetal fatty acid oxidation disorders and maternal liver

Prem Shekhawat1, Michael J Bennett, Yoel Sadovsky

  • 1Departments of Pediatric,Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri 63110, USA. pshekhawat@mail.mcg.edu

American Journal of Physiology. Endocrinology and Metabolism
|February 13, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Human placenta utilizes fatty acids for energy via beta-oxidation. This metabolic role may explain links between fetal fatty acid oxidation disorders and maternal pregnancy complications like preeclampsia.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Maternal-Fetal Medicine
  • Human Placental Biology

Background:

  • Fat metabolism's role in pregnancy and placental function is unclear.
  • Fetal fatty acid oxidation disorders are linked to maternal conditions like preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the expression and activity of fatty acid beta-oxidation enzymes in human placentas across gestation.
  • To determine if the placenta utilizes fatty acids as a metabolic fuel source.

Main Methods:

  • Immunohistochemical and immunoblot analyses of six beta-oxidation enzymes in human placental specimens.
  • Assay of beta-oxidation enzyme activities at different gestational ages.
  • Assessment of fatty acid oxidation by cultured trophoblast cells using radiolabeled palmitate and myristate.

Main Results:

  • All six fatty acid beta-oxidation enzymes were abundantly expressed in placental syncytiotrophoblasts.
  • Placental beta-oxidation enzyme activity was higher in early gestation and decreased near term.
  • Cultured trophoblast cells demonstrated significant oxidation of fatty acids, confirming their utilization as fuel.

Conclusions:

  • The human placenta actively metabolizes fatty acids for energy through beta-oxidation.
  • This placental metabolic function offers a potential mechanism linking fetal fatty acid oxidation defects to maternal pregnancy diseases.

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