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Differential Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Status and Placental Transport in Adolescent Pregnancies

Fernanda Carrilho Pinto da Fonseca1, Daniela de Barros Mucci2, Renata Pereira Assumpção3

  • 1Instituto de Nutrição Josué de Castro, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil. nanda_carrilho@yahoo.com.br.

Nutrients
|February 22, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Adolescent pregnancy impacts fatty acid (FA) status. Placental gene expression for FA transport was altered, yet fetal FA levels remained largely protected, suggesting compensatory mechanisms in adolescent pregnancies.

Area of Science:

  • Perinatal nutrition
  • Maternal-fetal medicine
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Adolescent pregnancy is linked to adverse perinatal outcomes.
  • Placental transfer of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) is critical for fetal development.
  • Understanding fatty acid (FA) status and placental transport in adolescent pregnancies is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare maternal and fetal FA status at birth between adolescents and adults.
  • To investigate placental gene and protein expression related to FA uptake, transport, and metabolism in adolescent pregnancies.
  • To assess the impact of altered placental FA metabolism on fetal FA levels.

Main Methods:

  • Quantification of fatty acids (FA) in maternal and fetal erythrocytes and placenta using gas-liquid chromatography.
  • Assessment of placental gene expression for FA transporters (e.g., FABPpm, FATP, FAT/CD36) via quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).
  • Quantification of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) protein levels in the placenta using Western Blot.

Main Results:

  • Adolescents exhibited lower docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and total n-3 FA in maternal erythrocytes and placenta, with increased placental arachidonic acid (AA).
  • Placental expression of FATP1, FAT/CD36, FABP3 mRNA, and PPARγ protein was decreased in adolescents.
  • Despite downregulation of key FA transport genes, fetal erythrocyte FA levels, including DHA, showed no significant differences, and LCPUFA/AA levels were only modestly decreased.

Conclusions:

  • Adolescent placentas show altered expression of genes involved in fatty acid transport and metabolism.
  • Mechanisms exist that partially protect fetal long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LCPUFA) status despite maternal and placental changes.
  • Further research is needed to identify these protective factors and their clinical implications for adolescent pregnancies.

Keywords:
: polyunsaturated fatty acidsadolescentsfatty acid transport proteinnewbornsplacentaumbilical cord

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