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Gene expression of iron transporters, markers of vascularization and structural integrity in placenta of mothers with and without anemia

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Abstract

Objective

To compare the mRNA expression of placental iron transporters (TfR-1 and FPN), markers of placental vascularization (VEGF and sFLT1) and marker of structural integrity (LMN-A) in term women with and without iron deficiency anemia.

Materials and methods

A total of 30 pregnant women were enrolled; 15 cases of iron deficiency anemia (Hb 7-10.9 gm/dL) and 15 gestational age matched healthy controls (Hb ≥ 11 gm/dL). Peripheral venous blood was collected for assessment of hemoglobin levels and serum iron profile. Placental tissue was used for assessing the mRNA expression of TfR-1, FPN, VEGF, sFLT-1 and LMN-A via real time PCR.

Results

Placental expression of TfR-1, VEGF and LMN-A was increased in pregnant women with anemia compared to healthy pregnant controls. Placental expression of sFLT-1 was decreased in pregnant women with anemia compared to healthy pregnant controls. There was no change in the placental expression of FPN.

Conclusion

The increased expression of TfR-1, VEGF and LMN-A in cases of iron deficiency anemia are most likely to be compensatory in nature to help maintain adequate fetal iron delivery.

What does this study adds to the clinical work

: Compensatory changes in the placenta aimed at buffering transport of iron to the fetus are seen in pregnant women with anemia compared to healthy pregnant controls.

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Data availability

The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are not publicly available due to administrative reasons but are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the patients who participated in the study.

Funding

The authors declare that no funds, grants, or other support were received during the preparation of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University College of Medical Sciences & GTB Hospital, University of Delhi, Delhi, India

    Madhav Arora

  2. Department of Biochemistry, University College of Medical Sciences & GTB Hospital, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110095, India

    Mohit Mehndiratta & Edelbert Anthonio Almeida

  3. Department of Pathology, University College of Medical Sciences and GTB Hospital, University of Delhi, Delhi, India

    Mrinalini Kotru

  4. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University College of Medical Sciences & GTB Hospital, University of Delhi, Delhi, India

    Bindiya Gupta

Authors
  1. Madhav Arora
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  2. Mohit Mehndiratta
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  3. Edelbert Anthonio Almeida
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  4. Mrinalini Kotru
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  5. Bindiya Gupta
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Contributions

MA: Concept, design, definition of intellectual content, literature search, clinical studies, data acquisition, data analysis, statistical analysis, manuscript preparation, manuscript editing. MM Concept, design, definition of intellectual content, literature search, clinical studies, data acquisition, data analysis, statistical analysis, manuscript editing and manuscript review. EAA: Concept, design, definition of intellectual content, literature search, clinical studies, data acquisition, data analysis, statistical analysis, manuscript preparation, manuscript editing. MK: Concept, design, definition of intellectual content, literature search, clinical studies, data acquisition, data analysis and manuscript review. BG: Concept, design, definition of intellectual content, clinical studies, clinical studies, data acquisition, data analysis and manuscript review.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mohit Mehndiratta.

Ethics declarations

Ethical approval

This study was performed in line with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Approval was granted by Institutional Ethics Committee- Human Research (IECHR/2022/54/9-R1).

Consent to participate

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Not applicable.

Author declaration

The manuscript has been read and approved by all the authors, the requirements for authorship as stated earlier in this document have been met, each author believes that the manuscript represents honest work.

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The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose.

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Arora, M., Mehndiratta, M., Almeida, E.A. et al. Gene expression of iron transporters, markers of vascularization and structural integrity in placenta of mothers with and without anemia. Mol Biol Rep 51, 652 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-024-09609-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-024-09609-z

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