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Horm Metab Res 2016; 48(08): 535-539
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-105152
Endocrine Research
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Increased Expression of Aquaporin 9 in Trophoblast From Gestational Diabetic Patients

T. Vilariño-García   *
1   Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Virgen Macarena University Hospital, Medical School, University of Seville, Seville, Spain
,
A. Pérez-Pérez   *
1   Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Virgen Macarena University Hospital, Medical School, University of Seville, Seville, Spain
,
V. Dietrich
2   Department of Biological Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
,
M. Fernández-Sánchez
4   Valencian Infertility Institute (IVI), Seville, Spain
,
P. Guadix
5   Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Virgen Macarena University Hospital, Medical School, University of Seville, Seville, Spain
,
J. L. Dueñas
5   Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Virgen Macarena University Hospital, Medical School, University of Seville, Seville, Spain
,
C. L. Varone
3   Department of Biological Chemistry, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
,
A. E. Damiano
2   Department of Biological Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
,
V. Sánchez-Margalet
1   Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Virgen Macarena University Hospital, Medical School, University of Seville, Seville, Spain
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 17 December 2015

accepted 08 March 2016

Publication Date:
15 April 2016 (online)

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Abstract

Gestational diabetes mellitus is the most frequent pathophysiological alteration in pregnancy, increasing the incidence of complications in both mother and fetus. The macrosomia that occurs in these fetuses may be related with some changes in nutrient transport mechanism in placenta. The presence of aquaporin 9, an aquaglyceroporin, has previously been demonstrated in placenta. We raised the question whether aquaporin 9 expression may be upregulated in placenta from gestational diabetes, thus providing a faster transport of glycerol and water through placenta. We studied 21 placentas (13 controls and 8 gestational diabetes) from cesarean delivery at term. The expression of aquaporin 9 was analyzed by quantitative PCR, immunoblot, and immunohistochemistry. The median values from quantitative PCR were compared by nonparametric tests for independent samples (Mann-Whitney U-test). We have found that trophoblast from gestational diabetes express higher amount of aquaporin 9, which was found statistically significant (p<0.05). The increase in aquaporin 9 expression was confirmed by immunoblot, and localization in the syncytiotrophoblast was checked by immunohistochemistry. The increase in aquaporin 9 expression in placenta from gestational diabetes may contribute to the higher transport rate in this pathology of pregnancy.

Key words

gestational diabetes mellitus - aquaporins - AQP9 - placenta

* These authors should be considered as first authors


 

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