Malaria in pregnancy regulates P‐glycoprotein (P‐gp/ Abcb1a ) and ABCA1 efflux transporters in the Mouse Visceral Yolk Sac

Malaria in pregnancy (MiP) induces intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and preterm labour (PTL). However, its effects on yolk sac morphology and function are largely unexplored. We hypothesized that MiP modifies yolk sac morphology and efflux transport potential by modulating ABC efflux transporters. C57BL/6 mice injected with Plasmodium berghei ANKA (5 × 105 infected erythrocytes) at gestational day (GD) 13.5 were subjected to yolk sac membrane harvesting at GD 18.5 for histology, qPCR and immunohistochemistry. MiP did not alter the volumetric proportion of the yolk sac's histological components. However, it increased levels of Abcb1a mRNA (encoding P-glycoprotein) and macrophage migration inhibitory factor (Mif chemokine), while decreasing Abcg1 (P < 0.05); without altering Abca1, Abcb1b, Abcg2, Snat1, Snat2, interleukin (Il)-1β and C-C Motif chemokine ligand 2 (Ccl2). Transcripts of Il-6, chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 1 (Cxcl1), Glut1 and Snat4 were not detectible. ABCA1, ABCG1, breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) and P-gp were primarily immunolocalized to the cell membranes and cytoplasm of endodermic epithelium but also in the mesothelium and in the endothelium of mesodermic blood vessels. Intensity of P-gp labelling was stronger in both endodermic epithelium and mesothelium, whereas ABCA1 labelling increased in the endothelium of the mesodermic blood vessels. The presence of ABC transporters in the yolk sac wall suggests that this fetal membrane acts as an important protective gestational barrier. Changes in ABCA1 and P-gp in MiP may alter the biodistribution of toxic substances, xenobiotics, nutrients and immunological factors within the fetal compartment and participate in the pathogenesis of malaria-induced IUGR and PTL

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image_3_Vitamin D Receptor TaqI Polymorphism Is Associated With Reduced Follicle Number in Women Utilizing Assisted Reproductive Technologies.tiff

Purpose<p>Calcitriol, or 1,25-hydroxycholecalciferol, is the active form of vitamin D. It binds and activates vitamin D receptor (VDR). Infertility and defective folliculogenesis have been observed in female vdr-knockout mice; however, whether VDR polymorphisms affect human ovarian responses to controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) remains unclear. We hypothesized that VDR polymorphisms are associated with infertility and COS responses. Thus, we evaluated the association between the TaqI, BsmI, and FokI VDR polymorphisms and ovarian responses in women undergoing COS.</p>Methods<p>In this study, we recruited a control group (n = 121) comprising volunteers with a history of natural conception and a second group of women undergoing COS (n = 70). TaqI, BsmI, and FokI genotyping was performed via restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis or TaqMan qPCR and Sanger sequencing. Intrafollicular 25(OH)D contents were measured in follicular fluid collected from COS patients during oocyte retrieval. Ovarian response parameters were obtained from patient medical records.</p>Results<p>There were no significant differences in the genotype frequencies of VDR polymorphisms (TaqI, BsmI and FokI) between the control and COS groups. However, the allele frequency of TaqI (C allele) was significantly lower in the COS group than in the control group (p = 0.02). Follicle number but not oocyte number was lower in patients with TaqI polymorphic (TC/CC) genotypes (p = 0.03). Importantly, the ratio between the number of follicles retrieved and intrafollicular estradiol concentrations was higher in patients with the TC/CC TaqI genotypes (p < 0.02).</p>Conclusion<p>We identified an association between the VDR TaqI polymorphism and reduced follicle number in women undergoing COS, suggesting that VDR signaling affects the ovarian response to stimulation via unknown mechanisms.</p