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Placental ABCA1 and ABCG1 expression in gestational disease: Pre-eclampsia affects ABCA1 levels in

M Baumann1, M Körner, X Huang

  • 1Swiss National Center of Competence in Research, NCCR TransCure, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.

Placenta
|July 25, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Placental ATP-binding cassette transporter ABCA1 is down-regulated in pre-eclampsia, impairing lipid exchange and increasing placental lipids. ABCG1 levels remained stable in gestational diseases.

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive biology
  • Molecular genetics
  • Obstetrics

Background:

  • Transplacental lipid exchange via ATP-binding cassette transporters ABCA1 and ABCG1 is vital for fetal development.
  • Limited data exist on the role of these transporters in gestational diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the expression and function of ABCA1 and ABCG1 in placentas from pregnancies complicated by common gestational diseases.
  • To determine if ABCA1 or ABCG1 are implicated in the pathophysiology of pre-eclampsia, HELLP, IUGR, intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, and gestational diabetes.

Main Methods:

  • Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry were used to assess ABCA1 and ABCG1 mRNA and protein levels in 72 placenta samples.
  • ABCA1 protein expression was further analyzed in placental membrane vesicles using immunoblot.
  • Placental cholesterol and phospholipid content were quantified.

Main Results:

  • ABCA1 mRNA levels showed significant differences between preterm and term control placentas.
  • A significant down-regulation of ABCA1 mRNA and protein was observed in pre-eclampsia (PE) and PE with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR).
  • Placental phospholipid content increased in PE, correlating with reduced ABCA1 expression, while ABCG1 levels remained unchanged across conditions.

Conclusions:

  • Placental ABCA1 expression is specifically downregulated in pre-eclampsia, affecting feto-maternal lipid exchange.
  • Increased placental lipid concentrations in PE suggest impaired ABCA1 transport function.
  • ABCG1 expression is not significantly altered in the studied gestational diseases.
Abstract

Keywords:
ABCA1ABCG1IUGRPlacentaPre-eclampsia

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