Gestational diabetes mellitus decreases placental uptake of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids: involvement of long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2013

Authors

Araújo JR (Author) FMUP; Correia Branco, A (Author) Other; ramalho, c (Author) FMUP; Elisa Keating (Author) FMUP; Martel, F (Author) FMUP

Journal

Title: Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry

Vol. 24

Pages: 1741-1750

ISSN: 0955-2863

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 43 Citations

Scopus - 42 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-006-6W9

DOI: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2013.03.003

Abstract (EN): The long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) arachidonic (AA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids are essential for fetal development. Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a pregnancy disorder associated with perinatal and lifelong risk complications for both the mother and the newborn. Our aim was to investigate the influence of GDM, and some of its associated conditions, upon the placental uptake of AA and DHA. Uptake of C-14-AA and C-14-DHA by human trophoblasts obtained from normal pregnancies (NTB cells) was mediated by both saturable (for lower substrate concentrations) and non-saturable (for higher substrate concentrations) mechanisms. Uptake of both fatty acids was inhibited by other LC-PUFAs and, markedly, by the long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase (ACSL) inhibitor, triacsin C. Human trophoblasts obtained from GDM pregnancies (DTB cells) showed a significantly lower C-14-AA and C-14-DHA accumulation, through a decrease in both the saturable and the non-saturable components of uptake, which was associated with a decrease in ACSL1 mRNA levels. Uptake of LC-PUFAs by NTB cells increased (by 20-25%) after short-term exposure to TNF-alpha (C-14-AA and C-14-DHA) and insulin (C-14-DHA). In conclusion, GDM, distinctly from its associated conditions, markedly decreases placental uptake of LC-PUFAs, which probably contributes to the deleterious effects of this disease for the newborn.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 10