Mechanisms of homocysteine transport by human placenta:Relationship to placental vascular distensibility and birthweight

人胎盘转运同型半胱氨酸的机制：与胎盘血管扩张性和出生体重的关系

• 批准号: G0500647/1
• 负责人: Jocelyn Glazier
• 金额: $ 30.7万
• 依托单位: University of Manchester
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Research Grant
• 财政年份: 2006
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2006 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=G0500647%2F1
• 关键词: Mechanisms; homocysteine; transport; human; placenta

Low birthweight (LBW) infants are at greater risk of developmental delay and cerebral palsy in later childhood than those of normal birthweight. In adult life, LBW may predispose to cardiovascular disease. This may be linked to a higher concentration of an amino acid called homocysteine which damages blood vessel walls. In pregnancy, sub-optimal folate or vitamin B12 status may contribute to raised homocysteine concentrations in maternal plasma and reduced fetal growth. How homocysteine is transported by the placenta is unknown. It is possible that homocysteine-induced damage to placental blood vessels provides a causative link between impaired placental function and LBW. Our project will identify transport systems that carry homocysteine across the placenta in normal pregnancies and investigate whether these transporters are modulated by the vitamins folate and B12, micronutrients important in the metabolic conversion of homocysteine. We plan to explore relationships between homocysteine concentrations in cord blood, normal variations in infant size at birth, and the distensible properties of placental arterial vessels as a model of fetal vessels in which vascular function can be examined. We hope that our work will lead to new initiatives together with a continuum of care to improve fetal growth and health of newborn infants.

与正常出生体重的婴儿相比，低出生体重（LBW）婴儿在童年后期出现发育迟缓和脑瘫的风险更大。在成年生活中，低体重可能易患心血管疾病。这可能与一种称为同型半胱氨酸的氨基酸浓度较高有关，这种氨基酸会损害血管壁。在怀孕期间，叶酸或维生素 B12 状态不佳可能会导致母体血浆中同型半胱氨酸浓度升高并降低胎儿生长。同型半胱氨酸如何通过胎盘运输尚不清楚。同型半胱氨酸引起的胎盘血管损伤可能是胎盘功能受损与低出生体重之间的因果关系。我们的项目将确定正常妊娠时携带同型半胱氨酸穿过胎盘的转运系统，并研究这些转运蛋白是否受到维生素叶酸和维生素 B12（对同型半胱氨酸代谢转化很重要的微量营养素）的调节。我们计划探索脐带血中同型半胱氨酸浓度、婴儿出生时体型的正常变化以及胎盘动脉血管的扩张特性之间的关系，作为可以检查血管功能的胎儿血管模型。我们希望我们的工作能够带来新的举措以及持续的护理，以改善胎儿的生长和新生儿的健康。