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Vitamin B 12 and Placental Expression of Transcobalamin in Pregnant Adolescents
Author(s) -
Layden Alexander J.,
O'Brien Kimberly O.,
Pressman Eva K.,
Kent Tera R.,
Finkelstein Julia L.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.30.1_supplement.272.3
Subject(s) - cord blood , placenta , gestation , vitamin d binding protein , fetus , vitamin , umbilical cord , pregnancy , andrology , medicine , biology , endocrinology , obstetrics , immunology , genetics
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 among high‐risk populations such as pregnant adolescents. Objective This study was conducted to determine the impact of maternal and neonatal vitamin B 12 status on placental transcobalamin (TC) expression in a cohort of healthy pregnant adolescents in the United States. Design Serum total vitamin B 12 concentrations were measured from 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 (ΔΔCt) and TC protein abundance (TC:α‐actin) were determined. Linear and binomial regression models were used to examine the associations of maternal (mid‐gestation, delivery) and infant cord blood vitamin B 12 status with placental TC mRNA expression and TC protein abundance (n=63). Results Maternal serum vitamin B 12 concentrations at mid‐gestation were not associated with placental TC mRNA expression or TC protein abundance (p>0.05). Higher maternal serum vitamin B 12 concentrations at delivery were associated with higher placental TC mRNA expression (p=0.03), but not TC protein abundance (p>0.05). Higher placental TC protein abundance was also associated with higher infant cord blood vitamin B 12 concentrations (p=0.003). Conclusions Higher placental TC protein abundance was associated with higher neonatal vitamin B 12 status, indicating an important role in vitamin B 12 transport to the fetus. Support or Funding Information The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA): USDA 2005‐35200‐15218 and USDA 2010‐34324‐20769; and the Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University