Photo Credit: Anna Iamanova

The following is a summary of “Evaluation of expression of amino acid and fatty acid metabolic transporters in the placenta of pregnant women with glucose intolerance,” published in the November 2024 issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology by Sakuragi et al.         

Researchers conducted a retrospective study to examine the expression of amino acid and fatty acid transporters in the placentas of pregnant women with glucose intolerance.  

They assessed deliveries (2017 to 2022) and performed immunohistochemical staining of transporters related to glucose, amino acids, and fatty acids on postpartum placental tissue. The stained areas were classified, scored, and compared using the Mann-Whitney U test. Logistic regression analysis was performed for large gestational-age infants with maternal age, body mass index (BMI), primipara/multipara status, gestational week, and glucose intolerance as confounding factors.  

The results showed 1,725 deliveries and 101 women met the inclusion criteria (glucose-intolerant [GI] group, n=61; non-GI group, n=40). Decreased expression of amino acid-related transporters per unit villus was observed, but significantly higher immunohistochemical staining scores for glucose, amino acid, and fatty acid transport per unit placenta in the GI group compared to the non-GI group (P<0.001). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that L-type amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1, OR [95% CI]: 12.35 [2.93–52.05], P<0.001) and placenta-plasma membrane fatty acid-binding protein (placenta-FABPpm, OR [95% CI]: 6.27 [1.64–23.88], P=0.007) were higher in the GI group.  

They concluded that the elevated expression of LAT1 and placenta-FABPpm in the placentas of pregnant women with glucose intolerance suggested that factors other than blood glucose, such as amino acids and fatty acids, should also be considered in the management.  

Source: obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jog.16163