Vitamin B-12 and placental expression of transcobalamin in pregnant adolescents

作者：Layden Alexander J; O' Brien Kimberly O; Pressman Eva K; Cooper Elizabeth M; Kent Tera R; Finkelstein Julia L

来源：Placenta, 2016, 45: 1-7.

DOI：10.1016/j.placenta.2016.06.011

• Vitamin B-12
• Transcobalamin
• Placenta
• Adolescents

Background: Transcobalamin is a key placental protein involved in transport of vitamin B-12 to the fetus. However, few data currently exist on the ability of the placenta to modify vitamin B-12 transporter expression, particularly in high-risk populations such as pregnant adolescents.
Objective: This study was conducted to determine the impact of maternal and neonatal serum vitamin B-12 concentrations on placental transcobalamin (TC) expression in a cohort of healthy pregnant adolescents in the United States.
Design: Serum vitamin B-12 concentrations were measured in maternal blood samples at mid-gestation (26.4 +/- 2.8 weeks) and delivery (39.8 +/- 1.4 weeks) and infant cord blood samples at birth. Placentas were collected at delivery and TC mRNA expression (Delta Delta Ct) and TC protein abundance (TC:alpha-actin) were evaluated. Linear and binomial regression models were used to examine the associations of maternal serum (mid-gestation, delivery) and cord blood vitamin B-12 concentrations with placental TC mRNA expression and protein abundance (n = 63).
Results: Maternal serum vitamin B-12 concentrations at mid-gestation or delivery were not significantly associated with placental TC mRNA expression or TC protein abundance (p > 0.05). Higher placental TC protein abundance was associated with increased cord blood vitamin B-12 concentrations (p = 0.003).
Conclusions: Higher placental TC protein abundance was associated with higher cord blood vitamin B-12 concentrations, suggesting a potential role in vitamin B-12 transport to the fetus.

• 出版日期2016-9