Modulation of placental protein expression of OLR1: implication in pregnancy-related disorders or pathologies

The lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor-1 (OLR1) is a newly described receptor for oxidatively modified LDL. The human pregnancy is associated with hyperlipidemia and oxidative stress. It has been reported that modification in maternal lipid profile can induce disturbance during pregnancy. In this study, we have evaluated the expression protein level of OLR1 in human term placenta of women having plasma cholesterol level lower to 7 mM or higher to 8 mM and women of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) by western blot analysis. The present study demonstrates that the maternal lipid profile is associated with placental protein expression of OLR1. A significant increase in the protein expression of OLR1 was observed in placenta of women with elevated plasmatic total cholesterol level (>8 mM). In addition, the placental protein expression of OLR1 is increased in mothers having the highest pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and low (<7 mM) plasmatic total cholesterol level at term. Interestingly, the placental protein expression of OLR1 is increased in the presence of GDM pregnancies compared with normal lipids level pregnancies, without the modification of mRNA expression. In conclusion, placental OLR1 protein expression is associated with maternal lipid profile, pre-pregnancy BMI, and pathology of GDM.