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Placental expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ): relation to placental and fetal growth

Marta Díaz1, Judit Bassols, Abel López-Bermejo

  • 1Hospital Sant Joan de Déu,University of Barcelona, 08950 Esplugues, Barcelona, Spain.

The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
|June 13, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Low placental peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) expression is linked to small for gestational age (SGA) infants. Higher PPARγ levels correlate with increased placental and fetal weight, especially in SGA subpopulations.

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive biology
  • Endocrinology
  • Developmental biology

Background:

  • Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) is crucial for placental development.
  • PPARγ influences maternofetal transfer of oxygen and nutrients, impacting prenatal growth.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between placental PPARγ expression and placental and fetal growth.
  • To test the hypothesis that PPARγ levels correlate with fetal size at birth.

Main Methods:

  • 116 placentas were collected from term singleton deliveries.
  • Infants were categorized as small (SGA), appropriate (AGA), or large (LGA) for gestational age.
  • Real-time PCR quantified placental PPARγ expression relative to GAPDH.

Main Results:

  • Placentas from AGA and LGA infants showed nearly 2-fold higher PPARγ expression than those from SGA infants.
  • Placental PPARγ expression positively correlated with placental and/or fetal weight.
  • This association was particularly significant within the SGA subpopulation (P = 0.001).

Conclusions:

  • PPARγ expression is notably lower in placentas of SGA fetuses.
  • Increased PPARγ expression is associated with greater fetal and placental weights, especially in SGA cases.
Abstract

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