Regulation of Nutrient Transport across the Placenta
Open Access
- 10 December 2012
- journal article
- review article
- Published by Hindawi Limited in Journal of Pregnancy
- Vol. 2012, 1-14
- https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/179827
Abstract
Abnormal fetal growth, both growth restriction and overgrowth, is associated with perinatal complications and an increased risk of metabolic and cardiovascular disease later in life. Fetal growth is dependent on nutrient availability, which in turn is related to the capacity of the placenta to transport these nutrients. The activity of a range of nutrient transporters has been reported to be decreased in placentas of growth restricted fetuses, whereas at least some studies indicate that placental nutrient transport is upregulated in fetal overgrowth. These findings suggest that changes in placental nutrient transport may directly contribute to the development of abnormal fetal growth. Detailed information on the mechanisms by which placental nutrient transporters are regulated will therefore help us to better understand how important pregnancy complications develop and may provide a foundation for designing novel intervention strategies. In this paper we will focus on recent studies of regulatory mechanisms that modulate placental transport of amino acids, fatty acids, and glucose.Funding Information
- National Institutes of Health (DK 890899, HD 065007)
This publication has 153 references indexed in Scilit:
- Fatty acid transport proteins, implications in physiology and diseaseBiochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Molecular and Cell Biology of Lipids, 2012
- Glucose transporter 3 (GLUT3) protein expression in human placenta across gestationPlacenta, 2011
- The contribution of SNAT1 to system A amino acid transporter activity in human placental trophoblastBiochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 2010
- Review: Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species and functional adaptation of the placentaPlacenta, 2010
- Leptin Affects System A Amino Acid Transport Activity in the Human Placenta: Evidence for STAT3 Dependent MechanismsPlacenta, 2009
- The SNAT4 isoform of the system A amino acid transporter is functional in human placental microvillous plasma membraneJournal Of Physiology-London, 2009
- Hypoxia regulates the expression of fatty acid–binding proteins in primary term human trophoblastsAmerican Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2007
- Mammalian target of rapamycin in the human placenta regulates leucine transport and is down‐regulated in restricted fetal growthJournal Of Physiology-London, 2007
- Sensory elements within the circular muscle are essential for mechanotransduction of ongoing peristaltic reflex activity in guinea-pig distal colonJournal Of Physiology-London, 2006
- Down-regulation of placental transport of amino acids precedes the development of intrauterine growth restriction in rats fed a low protein dietJournal Of Physiology-London, 2006