Placental melatonin system: functions and mechanisms of action

胎盘褪黑激素系统：功能和作用机制

• 批准号: 262011-2009
• 负责人: Vaillancourt, Cathy
• 金额: $ 1.82万
• 依托单位: Institut national de la recherche scientifique
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2013
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2013-01-01 至 2014-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=525453
• 关键词: Placental; melatonin; system; functions; mechanisms

The human placenta acts as a central regulator of maternal and fetal physiology. Although the role of melatonin on fetal development has been the subject of a number of studies, data on its role in placental physiology are scarce. We have demonstrated that human placenta expresses melatonin receptors. We have also shown the presence and activity of the enzymes responsible for melatonin synthesis and placental melatonin production in placental trophoblast cells. These results strongly suggest an important paracrine, autocrine and/or intracrine role for melatonin and its receptors in placental function and development and, consequently, in pregnancy and fetal health. However, the role of melatonin in placental function and development is still obscure. Thus, our research program aims to elucidate the role and cellular mechanism of melatonin and its receptors in placental endocrine function as well as on trophoblast development. That is, to better understand the role of this trypthophan-derived hormone and its receptors in placental health, and by consequence in pregnancy well-being and fetal development and to develop a new human cellular model to study the regulation and function of melatonin and its receptors on normal and abnormal cellular processes and open the way for new preventive and therapeutic approaches in these areas for variety of disorders including obstetric complications, depression, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases.

人类胎盘作为母体和胎儿生理的中心调节器。虽然褪黑激素对胎儿发育的作用已经成为许多研究的主题，但关于其在胎盘生理学中作用的数据很少。 我们已经证明，人类胎盘表达褪黑激素受体。我们还发现了胎盘滋养层细胞中负责褪黑激素合成和胎盘褪黑激素产生的酶的存在和活性。这些结果强烈表明，一个重要的旁分泌，自分泌和/或内分泌的褪黑激素及其受体在胎盘的功能和发育，因此，在怀孕和胎儿的健康作用。然而，褪黑激素在胎盘功能和发育中的作用仍不清楚。因此，我们的研究计划旨在阐明褪黑激素及其受体在胎盘内分泌功能以及滋养层发育中的作用和细胞机制。也就是说，为了更好地了解这种色氨酸衍生激素及其受体在胎盘健康中的作用，因此在怀孕期间研究褪黑素及其受体对正常和异常细胞过程的调节和功能，并为这些领域的各种疾病（包括产科疾病）的新预防和治疗方法开辟道路。并发症、抑郁症、癌症和神经退行性疾病。