The effects of aspartame on the HTR8/SVneo extravillous trophoblast cell line

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2022

Authors

Rodrigues, H (Author) Other; Silva, C (Author) FMUP; Martel, F (Author) FMUP

Journal

Title: Reproductive Biology

Vol. 22

ISSN: 1642-431X

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 5 Citations

Scopus

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00X-3GR

DOI: 10.1016/j.repbio.2022.100678

Abstract (EN): Extravillous trophoblasts (EVTs) are a key cell type involved in placentation. Aspartame is an artificial sweetener with a widespread use. In rodents, aspartame ingestion during pregnancy was found to cause a reduction in placental and fetal weights, but its effect in placentation at a cellular level has not been studied. Aspartame is completely hydrolyzed in the gastrointestinal tract into L-phenylalanine, L-aspartic acid, and methanol. We aimed to study the effects of aspartame and its metabolites on placentation related characteristics of EVTs. For this, we exposed HTR-8/SVneo cells to aspartame (0.001, 0.01, 0.1, 0.5 and 1 mM), L-phenylalanine (0.14 and 0.5 mM), L-aspartic acid (0.82, 2.8 and 10 mM) or methanol (0.14 and 0.8 mM) for 24 h. Aspartame had an antiproliferative effect, decreased the number of metabolically active cells and glucose cellular uptake and increased the number of cells arrested in S phase. L-aspartic acid significantly reduced glucose uptake and whole-cell protein content. L-phenylalanine had an anti-proliferative effect and increased the number of metabolically active cells. Interestingly, methanol exerted very marked effects on HTR8/SVneo cells: it showed an antiproliferative effect, decreased glucose uptake, the migratory ability and the number of cells in the G2/M phase and increased oxidative stress levels, in concentrations corresponding to the blood levels after the 99th percentile of projected daily ingestion of aspartame. Overall, our results demonstrate that aspartame and its metabolites can affect several characteristics of EVTs and support the conclusion that the effect of aspartame in the placenta should be further evaluated.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 9