Abstract
The fetus is shielded from the adverse effects of excessive maternal glucocorticoids by 11β-HSD2, an enzyme which is expressed in the syncytial layer of the placental villi and is capable of converting biologically active cortisol into inactive cortisone. Impairment of this placental glucocorticoid barrier is associated with fetal intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and development of chronic diseases in later life. Ontogeny studies show that the expression of 11β-HSD2 is initiated at a very early stage after conception and increases with gestational age but declines around term. The promoter for HSD11B2, the gene encoding 11β-HSD2, has a highly GC-rich core. However, the pattern of methylation on HSD11B2 may have already been set up in the blastocyst when the trophoblast identity is committed. Instead, hCG-initiated signals appear to be responsible for the upsurge of 11β-HSD2 expression during trophoblast syncytialization. By activating the cAMP/PKA pathway, hCG not only alters the modification of histones but also increases the expression of Sp1 which activates the transcription of HSD11B2. Adverse conditions such as stress, hypoxia and nutritional restriction can cause IUGR of the fetus. It appears that different causes of IUGR may attenuate HSD11B2 expression differentially in the placenta. While stress and nutritional restriction may reduce HSD11B2 expression by increasing its methylation, hypoxia may decrease HSD11B2 expression via alternative mechanisms rather than by methylation. Herein, we summarize the advances in the study of mechanisms underlying the establishment of the placental glucocorticoid barrier and the attenuation of this barrier by adverse conditions during pregnancy.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Smith SM, Vale WW (2006) The role of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in neuroendocrine responses to stress. Dialogues Clin Neurosci 8(4):383–395
Whirledge S, Cidlowski JA (2017) Glucocorticoids and reproduction: traffic control on the road to reproduction. Trends Endocrinol Metabol 28(6):399–415. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tem.2017.02.005
Michael AE, Papageorghiou AT (2008) Potential significance of physiological and pharmacological glucocorticoids in early pregnancy. Hum Reprod Update 14(5):497–517. https://doi.org/10.1093/humupd/dmn021
Larry CG (1995) Effect of corticosteroids for fetal maturation on perinatal outcomes: NIH consensus development panel on the effect of corticosteroids for fetal maturation on perinatal outcomes. JAMA 273(5):413–418. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.1995.03520290065031
Liggins GC, Howie RN (1972) A controlled trial of antepartum glucocorticoid treatment for prevention of the respiratory distress syndrome in premature infants. Pediatrics 50(4):515–525
Li XQ, Zhu P, Myatt L, Sun K (2014) Roles of glucocorticoids in human parturition: a controversial fact? Placenta 35(5):291–296. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.placenta.2014.03.005
Wang W, Chen ZJ, Myatt L, Sun K (2018) 11beta-HSD 1 in human fetal membranes as a potential therapeutic target for preterm birth. Endocr Rev. https://doi.org/10.1210/er.2017-00188
Reynolds RM (2013) Glucocorticoid excess and the developmental origins of disease: two decades of testing the hypothesis—2012 Curt Richter Award Winner. Psychoneuroendocrinology 38(1):1–11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2012.08.012
Roberts D, Dalziel S (2006) Antenatal corticosteroids for accelerating fetal lung maturation for women at risk of preterm birth. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 3:CD004454. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.cd004454.pub2
Reynolds RM (2013) Programming effects of glucocorticoids. Clin Obstet Gynecol 56(3):602–609. https://doi.org/10.1097/GRF.0b013e31829939f7
Mesiano S, Jaffe RB (1997) Developmental and functional biology of the primate fetal adrenal cortex. Endocr Rev 18(3):378–403. https://doi.org/10.1210/edrv.18.3.0304
Ishimoto H, Jaffe RB (2011) Development and function of the human fetal adrenal cortex: a key component in the feto-placental unit. Endocr Rev 32(3):317–355. https://doi.org/10.1210/er.2010-0001
Macnaughton MC, Taylor T, McNally EM, Coutts JR (1977) The effect of synthetic ACTH on the metabolism of [4-14C]-progesterone by the previable human fetus. J Steroid Biochem 8(5):499–504
Rainey WE, Rehman KS, Carr BR (2004) Fetal and maternal adrenals in human pregnancy. Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am 31(4):817–835. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ogc.2004.08.006
Scott EM, McGarrigle HH, Lachelin GC (1990) The increase in plasma and saliva cortisol levels in pregnancy is not due to the increase in corticosteroid-binding globulin levels. J Clin Endocrinol Metabol 71(3):639–644. https://doi.org/10.1210/jcem-71-3-639
Cousins L, Rigg L, Hollingsworth D, Meis P, Halberg F, Brink G, Yen SS (1983) Qualitative and quantitative assessment of the circadian rhythm of cortisol in pregnancy. Am J Obstet Gynecol 145(4):411–416
Nolten WE, Rueckert PA (1981) Elevated free cortisol index in pregnancy: possible regulatory mechanisms. Am J Obstet Gynecol 139(4):492–498
Burke CW, Roulet F (1970) Increased exposure of tissues to cortisol in late pregnancy. Br Med J 1(5697):657–659
Gitau R, Adams D, Fisk NM, Glover V (2005) Fetal plasma testosterone correlates positively with cortisol. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 90(2):F166–F169. https://doi.org/10.1136/adc.2004.049320
Murphy BE, Clark SJ, Donald IR, Pinsky M, Vedady D (1974) Conversion of maternal cortisol to cortisone during placental transfer to the human fetus. Am J Obstet Gynecol 118(4):538–541
Sun K, Adamson SL, Yang K, Challis JR (1999) Interconversion of cortisol and cortisone by 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases type 1 and 2 in the perfused human placenta. Placenta 20(1):13–19. https://doi.org/10.1053/plac.1998.0352
Giannopoulos G, Jackson K, Tulchinsky D (1982) Glucocorticoid metabolism in human placenta, decidua, myometrium and fetal membranes. J Steroid Biochem 17(4):371–374
Beitins IZ, Bayard F, Ances IG, Kowarski A, Migeon CJ (1973) The metabolic clearance rate, blood production, interconversion and transplacental passage of cortisol and cortisone in pregnancy near term. Pediatr Res 7(5):509–519. https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197305000-00004
Seckl JR, Benediktsson R, Lindsay RS, Brown RW (1995) Placental 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and the programming of hypertension. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 55(5–6):447–455
Albiston AL, Obeyesekere VR, Smith RE, Krozowski ZS (1994) Cloning and tissue distribution of the human 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 enzyme. Mol Cell Endocrinol 105(2):R11–R17
Tannin GM, Agarwal AK, Monder C, New MI, White PC (1991) The human gene for 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. Structure, tissue distribution, and chromosomal localization. J Biol Chem 266(25):16653–16658
White PC, Mune T, Agarwal AK (1997) 11 beta-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and the syndrome of apparent mineralocorticoid excess. Endocr Rev 18(1):135–156. https://doi.org/10.1210/edrv.18.1.0288
Seckl JR (1993) 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase isoforms and their implications for blood pressure regulation. Eur J Clin Invest 23(10):589–601
Monder C, Shackleton CH (1984) 11 beta-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase: fact or fancy? Steroids 44(5):383–417
Brown RW, Chapman KE, Edwards CR, Seckl JR (1993) Human placental 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase: evidence for and partial purification of a distinct NAD-dependent isoform. Endocrinology 132(6):2614–2621. https://doi.org/10.1210/endo.132.6.8504762
Hellal-Levy C, Couette B, Fagart J, Souque A, Gomez-Sanchez C, Rafestin-Oblin M (1999) Specific hydroxylations determine selective corticosteroid recognition by human glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid receptors. FEBS Lett 464(1–2):9–13
Seckl JR, Walker BR (2001) Minireview: 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1—a tissue-specific amplifier of glucocorticoid action. Endocrinology 142(4):1371–1376. https://doi.org/10.1210/endo.142.4.8114
Seckl JR, Chapman KE (1997) Medical and physiological aspects of the 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase system. Eur J Biochem 249(2):361–364
Hirasawa G, Takeyama J, Sasano H, Fukushima K, Suzuki T, Muramatu Y, Darnel AD, Kaneko C, Hiwatashi N, Toyota T, Nagura H, Krozowski ZS (2000) 11Beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type II and mineralocorticoid receptor in human placenta. J Clin Endocrinol Metabol 85(3):1306–1309. https://doi.org/10.1210/jcem.85.3.6429
Krozowski Z, MaGuire JA, Stein-Oakley AN, Dowling J, Smith RE, Andrews RK (1995) Immunohistochemical localization of the 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type II enzyme in human kidney and placenta. J Clin Endocrinol Metabol 80(7):2203–2209. https://doi.org/10.1210/jcem.80.7.7608280
Brown RW, Chapman KE, Murad P, Edwards CR, Seckl JR (1996) Purification of 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 from human placenta utilizing a novel affinity labelling technique. Biochem J 313(Pt 3):997–1005
Benediktsson R, Calder AA, Edwards CR, Seckl JR (1997) Placental 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase: a key regulator of fetal glucocorticoid exposure. Clin Endocrinol 46(2):161–166
Burton PJ, Waddell BJ (1999) Dual function of 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in placenta: modulating placental glucocorticoid passage and local steroid action. Biol Reprod 60(2):234–240
Osinski PA (1960) Steroid 11beta-ol dehydrogenase in human placenta. Nature 187:777
Beitins IZ, Bayard F, Ances IG, Kowarski A, Migeon CJ (1972) The transplacental passage of prednisone and prednisolone in pregnancy near term. J Pediatr 81(5):936–945
Levitz M, Jansen V, Dancis J (1978) The transfer and metabolism of corticosteroids in the perfused human placenta. Am J Obstet Gynecol 132(4):363–366
Bernal AL, Flint AP, Anderson AB, Turnbull AC (1980) 11 beta-Hydroxyteroid dehydrogenase activity (E.C. 1.1.1.146) in human placenta and decidua. J Steroid Biochem 13(9):1081–1087
Murphy BE (1981) Ontogeny of cortisol-cortisone interconversion in human tissues: a role for cortisone in human fetal development. J Steroid Biochem 14(9):811–817
Murphy BE (1977) Chorionic membrane as an extra-adrenal source of foetal cortisol in human amniotic fluid. Nature 266(5598):179–181
Li J, Wang W, Liu C, Wang W, Li W, Shu Q, Chen ZJ, Sun K (2013) Critical role of histone acetylation by p300 in human placental 11beta-HSD2 expression. J Clin Endocrinol Metabol 98(7):E1189–E1197. https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2012-4291
Yang Q, Wang W, Liu C, Wang Y, Sun K (2016) Compartmentalized localization of 11beta-HSD 1 and 2 at the feto-maternal interface in the first trimester of human pregnancy. Placenta 46:63–71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.placenta.2016.08.079
Salvante KG, Milano K, Kliman HJ, Nepomnaschy PA (2017) Placental 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11beta-HSD2) expression very early during human pregnancy. J Dev Origins Health Dis 8(2):149–154. https://doi.org/10.1017/S2040174416000611
Zuo R, Liu X, Wang W, Li W, Ying H, Sun K (2017) A repressive role of enhancer of zeste homolog 2 in 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 expression in the human placenta. J Biol Chem 292(18):7578–7587. https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M116.765800
Baergen RN (2005) Mannual of Benerschke and Kaufmann’s pathology of the human placenta. Springer, New York
Burton GJ, Jauniaux E, Watson AL (1999) Maternal arterial connections to the placental intervillous space during the first trimester of human pregnancy: the Boyd collection revisited. Am J Obstet Gynecol 181(3):718–724
Burton GJ, Jauniaux E, Charnock-Jones DS (2007) Human early placental development: potential roles of the endometrial glands. Placenta 28(Suppl A):S64–S69. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.placenta.2007.01.007
McTernan CL, Draper N, Nicholson H, Chalder SM, Driver P, Hewison M, Kilby MD, Stewart PM (2001) Reduced placental 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 mRNA levels in human pregnancies complicated by intrauterine growth restriction: an analysis of possible mechanisms. J Clin Endocrinol Metabol 86(10):4979–4983. https://doi.org/10.1210/jcem.86.10.7893
Schoof E, Girstl M, Frobenius W, Kirschbaum M, Repp R, Knerr I, Rascher W, Dotsch J (2001) Course of placental 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 and 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase mRNA expression during human gestation. Eur J Endocrinol 145(2):187–192
Shams M, Kilby MD, Somerset DA, Howie AJ, Gupta A, Wood PJ, Afnan M, Stewart PM (1998) 11Beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 in human pregnancy and reduced expression in intrauterine growth restriction. Hum Reprod 13(4):799–804
Lopez Bernal A, Craft IL (1981) Corticosteroid metabolism in vitro by human placenta, fetal membranes and decidua in early and late gestation. Placenta 2(4):279–285
Murphy VE, Clifton VL (2003) Alterations in human placental 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 and 2 with gestational age and labour. Placenta 24(7):739–744
Mark PJ, Augustus S, Lewis JL, Hewitt DP, Waddell BJ (2009) Changes in the placental glucocorticoid barrier during rat pregnancy: impact on placental corticosterone levels and regulation by progesterone. Biol Reprod 80(6):1209–1215. https://doi.org/10.1095/biolreprod.108.073650
Condon J, Ricketts ML, Whorwood CB, Stewart PM (1997) Ontogeny and sexual dimorphic expression of mouse type 2 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. Mol Cell Endocrinol 127(2):121–128
Thompson A, Han VK, Yang K (2002) Spatial and temporal patterns of expression of 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase types 1 and 2 messenger RNA and glucocorticoid receptor protein in the murine placenta and uterus during late pregnancy. Biol Reprod 67(6):1708–1718
Speirs HJ, Seckl JR, Brown RW (2004) Ontogeny of glucocorticoid receptor and 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type-1 gene expression identifies potential critical periods of glucocorticoid susceptibility during development. J Endocrinol 181(1):105–116
McArdle AM, Denton KM, Maduwegedera D, Moritz K, Flower RL, Roberts CT (2009) Ontogeny of placental structural development and expression of the renin-angiotensin system and 11beta-HSD2 genes in the rabbit. Placenta 30(7):590–598. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.placenta.2009.04.006
Sampath-Kumar R, Matthews SG, Yang K (1998) 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 is the predominant isozyme in the guinea pig placenta: decreases in messenger ribonucleic acid and activity at term. Biol Reprod 59(6):1378–1384
Sun K, Yang K, Challis JR (1997) Differential expression of 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase types 1 and 2 in human placenta and fetal membranes. J Clin Endocrinol Metabol 82(1):300–305. https://doi.org/10.1210/jcem.82.1.3681
Agarwal AK, Rogerson FM, Mune T, White PC (1995) Gene structure and chromosomal localization of the human HSD11 K gene encoding the kidney (type 2) isozyme of 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. Genomics 29(1):195–199. https://doi.org/10.1006/geno.1995.1231
Agarwal AK, White PC (1996) Analysis of the promoter of the NAD+ dependent 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD11 K) gene in JEG-3 human choriocarcinoma cells. Mol Cell Endocrinol 121(1):93–99
Alikhani-Koopaei R, Fouladkou F, Frey FJ, Frey BM (2004) Epigenetic regulation of 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 expression. J Clin Investig 114(8):1146–1157. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI21647
Hu W, Wang H, Huang H (2015) Analysis of gene expression and preliminary study of methylation about 11beta-HSD2 gene in placentas of Chinese pre-eclampsia patients of Han ethnicity. J Obstetr Gynaecol Res 41(3):343–349. https://doi.org/10.1111/jog.12555
Seisenberger S, Peat JR, Hore TA, Santos F, Dean W, Reik W (2013) Reprogramming DNA methylation in the mammalian life cycle: building and breaking epigenetic barriers. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 368(1609):20110330. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2011.0330
Nakanishi MO, Hayakawa K, Nakabayashi K, Hata K, Shiota K, Tanaka S (2012) Trophoblast-specific DNA methylation occurs after the segregation of the trophectoderm and inner cell mass in the mouse periimplantation embryo. Epigenetics 7(2):173–182. https://doi.org/10.4161/epi.7.2.18962
Li JN, Ge YC, Yang Z, Guo CM, Duan T, Myatt L, Guan H, Yang K, Sun K (2011) The Sp1 transcription factor is crucial for the expression of 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 in human placental trophoblasts. J Clin Endocrinol Metabol 96(6):E899–E907. https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2010-2852
Cole LA (2012) hCG, the wonder of today’s science. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 10:24. https://doi.org/10.1186/1477-7827-10-24
Nwabuobi C, Arlier S, Schatz F, Guzeloglu-Kayisli O, Lockwood CJ, Kayisli UA (2017) hCG: biological functions and clinical applications. Int J Mol Sci. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms18102037
Gerbaud P, Tasken K, Pidoux G (2015) Spatiotemporal regulation of cAMP signaling controls the human trophoblast fusion. Front Pharmacol 6:202. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2015.00202
Ni XT, Duan T, Yang Z, Guo CM, Li JN, Sun K (2009) Role of human chorionic gonadotropin in maintaining 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 expression in human placental syncytiotrophoblasts. Placenta 30(12):1023–1028. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.placenta.2009.10.005
Togher KL, Kenny LC, O’Keeffe GW (2017) Class-specific histone deacetylase inhibitors promote 11-beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 expression in JEG-3 cells. Int J Cell Biol 2017:6169310. https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/6169310
Fahlbusch FB, Ruebner M, Volkert G, Offergeld R, Hartner A, Menendez-Castro C, Strick R, Rauh M, Rascher W, Dotsch J (2012) Corticotropin-releasing hormone stimulates expression of leptin, 11beta-HSD2 and syncytin-1 in primary human trophoblasts. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 10:80. https://doi.org/10.1186/1477-7827-10-80
Guan H, Sun K, Yang K (2013) The ERK1/2 signaling pathway regulates 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 expression in human trophoblast cells through a transcriptional mechanism. Biol Reprod 89(4):92. https://doi.org/10.1095/biolreprod.113.110924
Sharma A, Guan H, Yang K (2009) The p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase regulates 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11beta-HSD2) expression in human trophoblast cells through modulation of 11beta-HSD2 messenger ribonucleic acid stability. Endocrinology 150(9):4278–4286. https://doi.org/10.1210/en.2009-0479
Julan L, Guan H, van Beek JP, Yang K (2005) Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta suppresses 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 gene expression in human placental trophoblast cells. Endocrinology 146(3):1482–1490. https://doi.org/10.1210/en.2004-1357
Zhu H, Zou C, Fan X, Xiong W, Tang L, Wu X, Tang C (2016) Up-regulation of 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 expression by hedgehog ligand contributes to the conversion of cortisol into cortisone. Endocrinology 157(9):3529–3539. https://doi.org/10.1210/en.2016-1286
Shu Q, Li W, Li J, Wang W, Liu C, Sun K (2014) Cross-talk between cAMP and MAPK pathways in HSD11B2 induction by hCG in placental trophoblasts. PLoS One 9(9):e107938. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0107938
He P, Chen Z, Sun Q, Li Y, Gu H, Ni X (2014) Reduced expression of 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 in preeclamptic placentas is associated with decreased PPARgamma but increased PPARalpha expression. Endocrinology 155(1):299–309. https://doi.org/10.1210/en.2013-1350
Robins JC, Marsit CJ, Padbury JF, Sharma SS (2011) Endocrine disruptors, environmental oxygen, epigenetics and pregnancy. Front Biosci 3:690–700
Reynolds RM (2010) Corticosteroid-mediated programming and the pathogenesis of obesity and diabetes. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 122(1–3):3–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsbmb.2010.01.009
Nyirenda MJ, Seckl JR (1998) Intrauterine events and the programming of adulthood disease: the role of fetal glucocorticoid exposure (review). Int J Mol Med 2(5):607–614
Gomez-Roig MD, Mazarico E, Cardenas D, Fernandez MT, Diaz M, Ruiz de Gauna B, Vela A, Gratacos E, Figueras F (2016) Placental 11B-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 mRNA levels in intrauterine growth restriction versus small-for-gestational-age fetuses. Fetal Diagn Ther 39(2):147–151. https://doi.org/10.1159/000437139
Dy J, Guan H, Sampath-Kumar R, Richardson BS, Yang K (2008) Placental 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 is reduced in pregnancies complicated with idiopathic intrauterine growth Restriction: evidence that this is associated with an attenuated ratio of cortisone to cortisol in the umbilical artery. Placenta 29(2):193–200. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.placenta.2007.10.010
Tzschoppe A, Struwe E, Blessing H, Fahlbusch F, Liebhaber G, Dorr HG, Rauh M, Rascher W, Goecke TW, Schild RL, Schleussner E, Scheler C, Hubler A, Dahlem P, Dotsch J (2009) Placental 11beta-HSD2 gene expression at birth is inversely correlated with growth velocity in the first year of life after intrauterine growth restriction. Pediatr Res 65(6):647–653. https://doi.org/10.1203/PDR.0b013e31819e7337
Zhao Y, Gong X, Chen L, Li L, Liang Y, Chen S, Zhang Y (2014) Site-specific methylation of placental HSD11B2 gene promoter is related to intrauterine growth restriction. Eur J Hum Genet 22(6):734–740. https://doi.org/10.1038/ejhg.2013.226
Lazo-de-la-Vega-Monroy ML, Solis-Martinez MO, Romero-Gutierrez G, Aguirre-Arzola VE, Wrobel K, Wrobel K, Zaina S, Barbosa-Sabanero G (2017) 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 2 promoter methylation is associated with placental protein expression in small for gestational age newborns. Steroids 124:60–66. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.steroids.2017.05.007
Togher KL, Togher KL, O’Keeffe MM, O’Keeffe MM, Khashan AS, Khashan AS, Gutierrez H, Gutierrez H, Kenny LC, Kenny LC, O’Keeffe GW, O’Keeffe GW (2014) Epigenetic regulation of the placental HSD11B2 barrier and its role as a critical regulator of fetal development. Epigenetics 9(6):816–822. https://doi.org/10.4161/epi.28703
Marsit CJ, Maccani MA, Padbury JF, Lester BM (2012) Placental 11-beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase methylation is associated with newborn growth and a measure of neurobehavioral outcome. PLoS One 7(3):e33794. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0033794
Ghaemmaghami P, Dainese SM, La Marca R, Zimmermann R, Ehlert U (2014) The association between the acute psychobiological stress response in second trimester pregnant women, amniotic fluid glucocorticoids, and neonatal birth outcome. Dev Psychobiol 56(4):734–747. https://doi.org/10.1002/dev.21142
O’Donnell KJ, Bugge Jensen A, Freeman L, Khalife N, O’Connor TG, Glover V (2012) Maternal prenatal anxiety and downregulation of placental 11beta-HSD2. Psychoneuroendocrinology 37(6):818–826. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2011.09.014
Welberg LA, Thrivikraman KV, Plotsky PM (2005) Chronic maternal stress inhibits the capacity to up-regulate placental 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 activity. J Endocrinol 186(3):R7–R12. https://doi.org/10.1677/joe.1.06374
Cuffe JS, O’Sullivan L, Simmons DG, Anderson ST, Moritz KM (2012) Maternal corticosterone exposure in the mouse has sex-specific effects on placental growth and mRNA expression. Endocrinology 153(11):5500–5511. https://doi.org/10.1210/en.2012-1479
Jensen Pena C, Monk C, Champagne FA (2012) Epigenetic effects of prenatal stress on 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-2 in the placenta and fetal brain. PLoS One 7(6):e39791. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0039791
van Beek JP, Guan H, Julan L, Yang K (2004) Glucocorticoids stimulate the expression of 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 in cultured human placental trophoblast cells. J Clin Endocrinol Metabol 89(11):5614–5621. https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2004-0113
Olson DM, Severson EM, Verstraeten BS, Ng JW, McCreary JK, Metz GA (2015) Allostatic load and preterm birth. Int J Mol Sci 16(12):29856–29874. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms161226209
Conradt E, Lester BM, Appleton AA, Armstrong DA, Marsit CJ (2013) The roles of DNA methylation of NR3C1 and 11beta-HSD2 and exposure to maternal mood disorder in utero on newborn neurobehavior. Epigenetics 8(12):1321–1329. https://doi.org/10.4161/epi.26634
Mueller BR, Bale TL (2008) Sex-specific programming of offspring emotionality after stress early in pregnancy. J Neurosci 28(36):9055–9065. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1424-08.2008
Green BB, Armstrong DA, Lesseur C, Paquette AG, Guerin DJ, Kwan LE, Marsit CJ (2015) The role of placental 11-beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 and type 2 methylation on gene expression and infant birth weight. Biol Reprod 92(6):149. https://doi.org/10.1095/biolreprod.115.128066
Mina TH, Raikkonen K, Riley SC, Norman JE, Reynolds RM (2015) Maternal distress associates with placental genes regulating fetal glucocorticoid exposure and IGF2: role of obesity and sex. Psychoneuroendocrinology 59:112–122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2015.05.004
Penailillo R, Guajardo A, Llanos M, Hirsch S, Ronco AM (2015) Folic acid supplementation during pregnancy induces sex-specific changes in methylation and expression of placental 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 2 in rats. PLoS One 10(3):e0121098. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0121098
Cuffe JS, Walton SL, Singh RR, Spiers JG, Bielefeldt-Ohmann H, Wilkinson L, Little MH, Moritz KM (2014) Mid- to late term hypoxia in the mouse alters placental morphology, glucocorticoid regulatory pathways and nutrient transporters in a sex-specific manner. J Physiol 592(14):3127–3141. https://doi.org/10.1113/jphysiol.2014.272856
Borzsonyi B, Demendi C, Pajor A, Rigo J Jr, Marosi K, Agota A, Nagy ZB, Joo JG (2012) Gene expression patterns of the 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 2 enzyme in human placenta from intrauterine growth restriction: the role of impaired feto-maternal glucocorticoid metabolism. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 161(1):12–17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejogrb.2011.12.013
Hardy DB, Yang K (2002) The expression of 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 is induced during trophoblast differentiation: effects of hypoxia. J Clin Endocrinol Metabol 87(8):3696–3701. https://doi.org/10.1210/jcem.87.8.8720
Alfaidy N, Gupta S, DeMarco C, Caniggia I, Challis JR (2002) Oxygen regulation of placental 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 2: physiological and pathological implications. J Clin Endocrinol Metabol 87(10):4797–4805. https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2002-020310
Homan A, Guan H, Hardy DB, Gratton RJ, Yang K (2006) Hypoxia blocks 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 induction in human trophoblast cells during differentiation by a time-dependent mechanism that involves both translation and transcription. Placenta 27(8):832–840. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.placenta.2005.09.006
Hogg K, Blair JD, McFadden DE, von Dadelszen P, Robinson WP (2013) Early onset pre-eclampsia is associated with altered DNA methylation of cortisol-signalling and steroidogenic genes in the placenta. PLoS One 8(5):e62969. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0062969
Causevic M, Mohaupt M (2007) 11beta-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 in pregnancy and preeclampsia. Mol Aspects Med 28(2):220–226. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mam.2007.04.003
Ravelli AC, van Der Meulen JH, Osmond C, Barker DJ, Bleker OP (1999) Obesity at the age of 50 y in men and women exposed to famine prenatally. Am J Clin Nutr 70(5):811–816. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/70.5.811
Roseboom TJ, van der Meulen JH, Ravelli AC, van Montfrans GA, Osmond C, Barker DJ, Bleker OP (1999) Blood pressure in adults after prenatal exposure to famine. J Hypertens 17(3):325–330
Guo C, Li C, Myatt L, Nathanielsz PW, Sun K (2013) Sexually dimorphic effects of maternal nutrient reduction on expression of genes regulating cortisol metabolism in fetal baboon adipose and liver tissues. Diabetes 62(4):1175–1185. https://doi.org/10.2337/db12-0561
Desai M, Crowther NJ, Lucas A, Hales CN (1996) Organ-selective growth in the offspring of protein-restricted mothers. Br J Nutr 76(4):591–603
Choi J, Li C, McDonald TJ, Comuzzie A, Mattern V, Nathanielsz PW (2011) Emergence of insulin resistance in juvenile baboon offspring of mothers exposed to moderate maternal nutrient reduction. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 301(3):R757–R762. https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpregu.00051.2011
Drake AJ, Tang JI, Nyirenda MJ (2007) Mechanisms underlying the role of glucocorticoids in the early life programming of adult disease. Clin Sci 113(5):219–232. https://doi.org/10.1042/CS20070107
Belkacemi L, Jelks A, Chen CH, Ross MG, Desai M (2011) Altered placental development in undernourished rats: role of maternal glucocorticoids. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 9:105. https://doi.org/10.1186/1477-7827-9-105
Gnanalingham MG, Williams P, Wilson V, Bispham J, Hyatt MA, Pellicano A, Budge H, Stephenson T, Symonds ME (2007) Nutritional manipulation between early to mid-gestation: effects on uncoupling protein-2, glucocorticoid sensitivity, IGF-I receptor and cell proliferation but not apoptosis in the ovine placenta. Reproduction 134(4):615–623. https://doi.org/10.1530/REP-06-0369
Bertram C, Trowern AR, Copin N, Jackson AA, Whorwood CB (2001) The maternal diet during pregnancy programs altered expression of the glucocorticoid receptor and type 2 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase: potential molecular mechanisms underlying the programming of hypertension in utero. Endocrinology 142(7):2841–2853. https://doi.org/10.1210/endo.142.7.8238
Kanitz E, Otten W, Tuchscherer M, Grabner M, Brussow KP, Rehfeldt C, Metges CC (2012) High and low proteinratio carbohydrate dietary ratios during gestation alter maternal-fetal cortisol regulation in pigs. PLoS One 7(12):e52748. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0052748
Shang Y, Jia Y, Sun Q, Shi W, Li R, Wang S, Sui S, Zhao R (2015) Sexually dimorphic effects of maternal dietary protein restriction on fetal growth and placental expression of 11beta-HSD2 in the pig. Anim Reprod Sci 160:40–48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anireprosci.2015.07.001
Shang Y, Yang X, Zhang R, Zou H, Zhao R (2012) Low amino acids affect expression of 11beta-HSD2 in BeWo cells through leptin-activated JAK-STAT and MAPK pathways. Amino Acids 42(5):1879–1887. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00726-011-0907-1
West AA, Caudill MA (2014) Applied choline-omics: lessons from human metabolic studies for the integration of genomics research into nutrition practice. J Acad Nutr Diet 114(8):1242–1250. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2013.12.012
Torrens C, Brawley L, Anthony FW, Dance CS, Dunn R, Jackson AA, Poston L, Hanson MA (2006) Folate supplementation during pregnancy improves offspring cardiovascular dysfunction induced by protein restriction. Hypertension 47(5):982–987. https://doi.org/10.1161/01.HYP.0000215580.43711.d1
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (31671566 and 81330018), National Key R&D Program of China (2017YFC1001403) and National Key Basic Research Projects (2014CB943302). The authors would like to thank Dr. Dev Sooranna, Imperial College London, for editing the manuscript.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
All authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Zhu, P., Wang, W., Zuo, R. et al. Mechanisms for establishment of the placental glucocorticoid barrier, a guard for life. Cell. Mol. Life Sci. 76, 13–26 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-018-2918-5
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-018-2918-5