Open AccessExpression of the TRPM6 in mouse placental trophoblasts; potential role in maternal–fetal calcium transport
Author(s) -
Yoshiro Suzuki,
Masaki Watanabe,
Claire T. Saito,
Makoto Tominaga
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of physiological sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.968
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 1880-6562
pISSN - 1880-6546
DOI - 10.1007/s12576-016-0449-0
Subject(s) - calcium , fetus , andrology , placenta , chemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , medicine , endocrinology , pregnancy , biology , genetics
The placenta is required to transport calcium (Ca 2+ ) from mother to fetus during fetal bone mineralization. In an attempt to clarify the molecular basis of Ca 2+ entry for this transport, we identified TRPM6 as a candidate for apical Ca 2+ entry pathway. TRPM6 mRNA increased during the last 4 days of pregnancy, coinciding with fetal bone mineralization in mice. TRPM6 mRNA and protein was localized in the trophoblasts in labyrinth where the maternal-fetal Ca 2+ transport occurs. In patch-clamp recordings, we observed TRPM6/TRPM7-like currents in mouse trophoblasts after starting fetal bone mineralization but not before mineralization. Plasma membrane Ca 2+ permeability was significantly increased in TRPM6/TRPM7 expressed HEK293 cells under physiological Mg 2+ and ATP concentration but not in TRPM6 or TRPM7 homomer-expressing cells. These results suggest that TRPM6 is functionally expressed in mouse placental trophoblasts, implicating in maternal-fetal Ca 2+ transport likely with TRPM7, which might enable to sustain fetal bone mineralization.