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Updated: Mar 25, 2026

The 4-vessel Sampling Approach to Integrative Studies of Human Placental Physiology In Vivo
Published on: August 2, 2017
Relationship between folate transporters expression in human placentas at term and birth weights
Lorena Caviedes1, Germán Iñiguez2, Paulina Hidalgo1
1Laboratorio de Nutrición y Regulación Metabólica, Unidad de Nutrición Humana, Instituto de Nutrición y Tecnología de los Alimentos (INTA), Universidad de Chile, Chile.
Background:
Adequate folate levels are essential for successful pregnancy outcomes. We aimed to study the relationship between placental mRNA and protein levels of folate transporters to birth weight.
Methods:
Placental folate transporters (FOLR1, RFC1 and HCP1/PCFT) mRNA and protein levels in basal (BP) and chorionic plate (CP) of small (SGA), appropriate (AGA) and large (LGA) for gestational age term infants (≥37 weeks gestation, n = 111) were determined by real-time PCR and Western blot respectively.
Results:
FOLR1 and HCP1/PCFT mRNA were lower in both plates of SGA and LGA placentas compared to AGA (p < 0.01) and RFC1 mRNA was lower only in CP (p < 0.02). RFC1 protein levels were lower in BP of SGA (p < 0.05) and LGA (p < 0.01), and FOLR1 protein levels were lower in CP of SGA (p < 0.02) and LGA (p < 0.01) groups compared to AGA. HCP1/PCFT protein levels remained unchanged in all groups.
Conclusion:
Placentas of SGA and LGA groups showed a reduced mRNA expression and protein levels of folate transporters, with some differences depending on the location within the placenta (BP or CP). This suggests the presence of specific placental regulation mechanisms in gene expression that may be associated to birth weight.
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