The impact of maternal obesity on iron status, placental transferrin receptor expression and hepcidin expression in human pregnancy

L Garcia-Valdes; C Campoy; H Hayes; J Florido; I Rusanova; M T Miranda; H J McArdle

doi:10.1038/ijo.2015.3

The impact of maternal obesity on iron status, placental transferrin receptor expression and hepcidin expression in human pregnancy

L Garcia-Valdes, C Campoy, H Hayes, J Florido, I Rusanova, M T Miranda, H J McArdle

The Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

66 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Obesity is associated with decreased iron status, possibly due to a rise in hepcidin, an inflammatory protein known to reduce iron absorption. In animals, we have shown that maternal iron deficiency is minimised in the foetus by increased expression of placental transferrin receptor (pTFR1), resulting in increased iron transfer at the expense of maternal iron stores.

OBJECTIVE: This study examines the effect of obesity during pregnancy on maternal and neonatal iron status in human cohorts and whether the placenta can compensate for decreased maternal iron stores by increasing pTFR1 expression.

SUBJECTS/METHODS: A total of 240 women were included in this study. One hundred and fifty-eight placentas (Normal: 90; Overweight: 37; Obese: 31) were collected at delivery. Maternal iron status was measured by determining serum transferrin receptor (sTFR) and ferritin levels at 24 and 34 weeks and at delivery. Hepcidin in maternal and cord blood was measured by ELISA and pTFR1 in placentas by western blotting and real-time RT-PCR.

RESULTS: Low iron stores were more common in obese women. Hepcidin levels (ng ml(-1)) at the end of the pregnancy were higher in obese than normal women (26.03±12.95 vs 18.00±10.77, P<0.05). Maternal hepcidin levels were correlated with maternal iron status (sTFR r=0.2 P=0.025), but not with neonatal values. mRNA and protein levels of pTFR1 were both inversely related to maternal iron status. For mRNA and all women, sTFR r=0.2 P=0.044. Ferritin mRNA levels correlated only in overweight women r=-0.5 P=0.039 with hepcidin (r=0.1 P=0.349), irrespective of maternal body mass index (BMI).

CONCLUSIONS: The data support the hypothesis that obese pregnant women have a greater risk of iron deficiency and that hepcidin may be a regulatory factor. Further, we show that the placenta responds to decreased maternal iron status by increasing pTFR1 expression.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	571-578
Number of pages	8
Journal	International Journal of Obesity
Volume	39
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2015.3
Publication status	Published - Apr 2015

Bibliographical note

We thank the families participating in the study, and clinicians and personnel from the hospital who provided invaluable assistance and support. This work was supported by Spanish Government Innovation, Science and Company Ministry (Excellence project P06-CTS-02341 (PREOBE) and Scottish Government (Rural and Environmental Scientific and Analytical Services (RESAS). Dr Luz Garcia Valdes gratefully acknowledges support from the Alfonso Martin Escudero Foundation.

Keywords

Adult
Antigens, CD
Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides
Biomarkers
Body Mass Index
Dietary Carbohydrates
Dietary Sucrose
Female
Hepcidins
Homeostasis
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Iron
Iron, Dietary
Male
Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
Maternal-Fetal Exchange
Mothers
Obesity
Obesity, Abdominal
Placenta
Pregnancy
Receptors, Transferrin
Transferrin
Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1038/ijo.2015.3Licence: Unspecified

Harry McArdle
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences & Nutrition, The Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health - Emeritus Professor
Person: Honorary

Cite this

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title = "The impact of maternal obesity on iron status, placental transferrin receptor expression and hepcidin expression in human pregnancy",

abstract = "BACKGROUND: Obesity is associated with decreased iron status, possibly due to a rise in hepcidin, an inflammatory protein known to reduce iron absorption. In animals, we have shown that maternal iron deficiency is minimised in the foetus by increased expression of placental transferrin receptor (pTFR1), resulting in increased iron transfer at the expense of maternal iron stores.OBJECTIVE: This study examines the effect of obesity during pregnancy on maternal and neonatal iron status in human cohorts and whether the placenta can compensate for decreased maternal iron stores by increasing pTFR1 expression.SUBJECTS/METHODS: A total of 240 women were included in this study. One hundred and fifty-eight placentas (Normal: 90; Overweight: 37; Obese: 31) were collected at delivery. Maternal iron status was measured by determining serum transferrin receptor (sTFR) and ferritin levels at 24 and 34 weeks and at delivery. Hepcidin in maternal and cord blood was measured by ELISA and pTFR1 in placentas by western blotting and real-time RT-PCR.RESULTS: Low iron stores were more common in obese women. Hepcidin levels (ng ml(-1)) at the end of the pregnancy were higher in obese than normal women (26.03±12.95 vs 18.00±10.77, P<0.05). Maternal hepcidin levels were correlated with maternal iron status (sTFR r=0.2 P=0.025), but not with neonatal values. mRNA and protein levels of pTFR1 were both inversely related to maternal iron status. For mRNA and all women, sTFR r=0.2 P=0.044. Ferritin mRNA levels correlated only in overweight women r=-0.5 P=0.039 with hepcidin (r=0.1 P=0.349), irrespective of maternal body mass index (BMI).CONCLUSIONS: The data support the hypothesis that obese pregnant women have a greater risk of iron deficiency and that hepcidin may be a regulatory factor. Further, we show that the placenta responds to decreased maternal iron status by increasing pTFR1 expression.",

keywords = "Adult, Antigens, CD, Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides, Biomarkers, Body Mass Index, Dietary Carbohydrates, Dietary Sucrose, Female, Hepcidins, Homeostasis, Humans, Infant, Newborn, Iron, Iron, Dietary, Male, Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena, Maternal-Fetal Exchange, Mothers, Obesity, Obesity, Abdominal, Placenta, Pregnancy, Receptors, Transferrin, Transferrin, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't",

author = "L Garcia-Valdes and C Campoy and H Hayes and J Florido and I Rusanova and Miranda, {M T} and McArdle, {H J}",

note = "We thank the families participating in the study, and clinicians and personnel from the hospital who provided invaluable assistance and support. This work was supported by Spanish Government Innovation, Science and Company Ministry (Excellence project P06-CTS-02341 (PREOBE) and Scottish Government (Rural and Environmental Scientific and Analytical Services (RESAS). Dr Luz Garcia Valdes gratefully acknowledges support from the Alfonso Martin Escudero Foundation.",

year = "2015",

month = apr,

doi = "10.1038/ijo.2015.3",

language = "English",

volume = "39",

pages = "571--578",

journal = "International Journal of Obesity",

issn = "0307-0565",

publisher = "Nature Publishing Group",

number = "4",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - The impact of maternal obesity on iron status, placental transferrin receptor expression and hepcidin expression in human pregnancy

AU - Garcia-Valdes, L

AU - Campoy, C

AU - Hayes, H

AU - Florido, J

AU - Rusanova, I

AU - Miranda, M T

AU - McArdle, H J

N1 - We thank the families participating in the study, and clinicians and personnel from the hospital who provided invaluable assistance and support. This work was supported by Spanish Government Innovation, Science and Company Ministry (Excellence project P06-CTS-02341 (PREOBE) and Scottish Government (Rural and Environmental Scientific and Analytical Services (RESAS). Dr Luz Garcia Valdes gratefully acknowledges support from the Alfonso Martin Escudero Foundation.

PY - 2015/4

Y1 - 2015/4

N2 - BACKGROUND: Obesity is associated with decreased iron status, possibly due to a rise in hepcidin, an inflammatory protein known to reduce iron absorption. In animals, we have shown that maternal iron deficiency is minimised in the foetus by increased expression of placental transferrin receptor (pTFR1), resulting in increased iron transfer at the expense of maternal iron stores.OBJECTIVE: This study examines the effect of obesity during pregnancy on maternal and neonatal iron status in human cohorts and whether the placenta can compensate for decreased maternal iron stores by increasing pTFR1 expression.SUBJECTS/METHODS: A total of 240 women were included in this study. One hundred and fifty-eight placentas (Normal: 90; Overweight: 37; Obese: 31) were collected at delivery. Maternal iron status was measured by determining serum transferrin receptor (sTFR) and ferritin levels at 24 and 34 weeks and at delivery. Hepcidin in maternal and cord blood was measured by ELISA and pTFR1 in placentas by western blotting and real-time RT-PCR.RESULTS: Low iron stores were more common in obese women. Hepcidin levels (ng ml(-1)) at the end of the pregnancy were higher in obese than normal women (26.03±12.95 vs 18.00±10.77, P<0.05). Maternal hepcidin levels were correlated with maternal iron status (sTFR r=0.2 P=0.025), but not with neonatal values. mRNA and protein levels of pTFR1 were both inversely related to maternal iron status. For mRNA and all women, sTFR r=0.2 P=0.044. Ferritin mRNA levels correlated only in overweight women r=-0.5 P=0.039 with hepcidin (r=0.1 P=0.349), irrespective of maternal body mass index (BMI).CONCLUSIONS: The data support the hypothesis that obese pregnant women have a greater risk of iron deficiency and that hepcidin may be a regulatory factor. Further, we show that the placenta responds to decreased maternal iron status by increasing pTFR1 expression.

AB - BACKGROUND: Obesity is associated with decreased iron status, possibly due to a rise in hepcidin, an inflammatory protein known to reduce iron absorption. In animals, we have shown that maternal iron deficiency is minimised in the foetus by increased expression of placental transferrin receptor (pTFR1), resulting in increased iron transfer at the expense of maternal iron stores.OBJECTIVE: This study examines the effect of obesity during pregnancy on maternal and neonatal iron status in human cohorts and whether the placenta can compensate for decreased maternal iron stores by increasing pTFR1 expression.SUBJECTS/METHODS: A total of 240 women were included in this study. One hundred and fifty-eight placentas (Normal: 90; Overweight: 37; Obese: 31) were collected at delivery. Maternal iron status was measured by determining serum transferrin receptor (sTFR) and ferritin levels at 24 and 34 weeks and at delivery. Hepcidin in maternal and cord blood was measured by ELISA and pTFR1 in placentas by western blotting and real-time RT-PCR.RESULTS: Low iron stores were more common in obese women. Hepcidin levels (ng ml(-1)) at the end of the pregnancy were higher in obese than normal women (26.03±12.95 vs 18.00±10.77, P<0.05). Maternal hepcidin levels were correlated with maternal iron status (sTFR r=0.2 P=0.025), but not with neonatal values. mRNA and protein levels of pTFR1 were both inversely related to maternal iron status. For mRNA and all women, sTFR r=0.2 P=0.044. Ferritin mRNA levels correlated only in overweight women r=-0.5 P=0.039 with hepcidin (r=0.1 P=0.349), irrespective of maternal body mass index (BMI).CONCLUSIONS: The data support the hypothesis that obese pregnant women have a greater risk of iron deficiency and that hepcidin may be a regulatory factor. Further, we show that the placenta responds to decreased maternal iron status by increasing pTFR1 expression.

KW - Adult

KW - Antigens, CD

KW - Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides

KW - Biomarkers

KW - Body Mass Index

KW - Dietary Carbohydrates

KW - Dietary Sucrose

KW - Female

KW - Hepcidins

KW - Homeostasis

KW - Humans

KW - Infant, Newborn

KW - Iron

KW - Iron, Dietary

KW - Male

KW - Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena

KW - Maternal-Fetal Exchange

KW - Mothers

KW - Obesity

KW - Obesity, Abdominal

KW - Placenta

KW - Pregnancy

KW - Receptors, Transferrin

KW - Transferrin

KW - Journal Article

KW - Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

U2 - 10.1038/ijo.2015.3

DO - 10.1038/ijo.2015.3

M3 - Article

C2 - 25614087

SN - 0307-0565

VL - 39

SP - 571

EP - 578

JO - International Journal of Obesity

JF - International Journal of Obesity

IS - 4

ER -

The impact of maternal obesity on iron status, placental transferrin receptor expression and hepcidin expression in human pregnancy

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

UN SDGs

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Harry McArdle

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