Maternal cholesterol in fetal development: transport of cholesterol from the maternal to the fetal circulation

Cholesterol is required for fetal development. Data obtained from recent studies in humans, rodents, and cell cultures showed that circulating maternal cholesterol can affect fetal metabolism and sterol accretion. Recent studies in our laboratory showed that the efflux of cholesterol from the basola...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The American journal of clinical nutrition 2005-12, Vol.82 (6), p.1155-1161
Main Author: Woollett, Laura A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Biological Transport, Active
Cholesterol
Cholesterol - metabolism
Cholesterol - therapeutic use
chorion
Circulatory system
congenital abnormalities
de novo cholesterol synthesis
Embryology: invertebrates and vertebrates. Teratology
Female
fetal cholesterol metabolism
fetal development
Fetal Development - physiology
fetus
Fetus - metabolism
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Humans
maternal effect
maternal nutrition
Maternal-Fetal Exchange - physiology
maternal-fetal transfer
Metabolism
Organogenesis. Fetal development
Organogenesis. Physiological fonctions
Placenta - metabolism
Pregnancy
pregnant women
Prenatal development
Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome
Smith-Lemli-Opitz Syndrome - drug therapy
Smith-Lemli-Opitz Syndrome - embryology
Smith-Lemli-Opitz Syndrome - genetics
trophoblast
yolk sac
Yolk Sac - metabolism
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Description
Summary:Cholesterol is required for fetal development. Data obtained from recent studies in humans, rodents, and cell cultures showed that circulating maternal cholesterol can affect fetal metabolism and sterol accretion. Recent studies in our laboratory showed that the efflux of cholesterol from the basolateral side of the placental cells and the secretion of cholesterol from endodermal yolk sac cells to the fetal circulation can be regulated. The ability to manipulate the mass of maternal cholesterol that crosses to the fetus could result in a dramatic improvement in the development of fetuses that lack the ability to synthesize cholesterol, such as those with Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome. On the other hand, it could also accelerate the development of various age-related diseases, such as atherosclerosis.
ISSN:0002-9165
1938-3207
DOI:10.1093/ajcn/82.6.1155