Hepatocyte growth factor is elevated in amniotic fluid from obese women and regulates placental glucose and fatty acid metabolism. Issue 4 (April 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Visiedo, F.; Bugatto, F.; Carrasco-Fernández, C.; Sáez-Benito, A.; Mateos, R.M.; Cózar-Castellano, I.; Bartha, J.L.; Perdomo, G.
• Is Part Of: Placenta. Volume 36:Issue 4(2015:Apr.)
• Page Start: 381
• Page End: 388
• Publication Date: 2015-04
• Subjects: Placenta -- Periodicals; Reproduction -- Periodicals; Placenta -- Periodicals; Placenta -- Périodiques; Reproduction -- Périodiques; 612.63
• DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2015.01.199
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0143-4004

Abstract

<abstract xml:lang="en" abstract-type="author" id="abs0010"> <title id="sectitle0010">Abstract</title> <sec> <title id="sectitle0015">Introduction</title> <p id="abspara0010">To evaluate the impact of the pro-inflammatory cytokine hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) on the regulation of glucose and lipid placental metabolism.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="sectitle0020">Methods</title> <p id="abspara0015">HGF levels were quantified in amniotic fluid and placenta from control and obese women. 2-deoxy-glucose (2-DOG) uptake, glycolysis, fatty acid oxidation (FAO), fatty acid esterification, <italic>de novo</italic> fatty acid synthesis, triglyceride levels and carnitine palmitoyltransferase activities (CPT) were measured in placental explants upon addition of pathophysiological HGF levels.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="sectitle0025">Results</title> <p id="abspara0020">In obese women, total- and -activated-HGF levels in amniotic fluid were elevated ∼24%, and placental HGF levels were ∼3-fold higher than in control women. At a similar dose to that present in amniotic fluid of obese women, HGF (30 ng/mL) increased Glut-1 levels and 2-DOG uptake by ∼25–30% in placental explants. HGF-mediated effect on 2-DOG uptake was dependent on the activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase signaling pathway. In addition, HGF decreased ∼20% FAO, whereas esterification and <italic>de novo</italic> fatty acid synthesis increased ∼15% and ∼25% respectively, leading to 2-fold triglyceride accumulation in placental explants. In parallel, HGF reduced CPT-I activity ∼70%.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="sectitle0030">Discussion</title> <p id="abspara0025">HGF is a cytokine elevated in amniotic fluid and placental tissue of obese women, which through its ability to stimulate 2-DOG uptake and metabolism impairs FAO and enhances esterification and <italic>de novo</italic> fatty acid synthesis, leading to accumulation of placental triglycerides.</p> </sec> </abstract>