Abstract | OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether placental-derived kynurenines (neuroactive metabolites that are derived from tryptophan) contributes to infection-mediated fetal cerebral injury. STUDY DESIGN: Placentae and cord blood were obtained from term deliveries (n = 16) and preterm deliveries with or without intrauterine bacterial infection (n = 8 per group). We investigated whether the placenta expressed messenger RNAs of kynurenine metabolite-forming enzymes, the effects of infection in vivo on the expression of these enzymes by the placenta, the in vitro effects of bacterial endotoxin lipopolysaccharide on expression and kynurenine metabolite output by the placenta, and the kynurenine metabolite levels in umbilical cord blood. RESULTS: CONCLUSION: Inflammatory mediated release of kynurenines from placentae exposes the fetus to significant amounts of potentially neurotoxic substances.
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Authors | Ursula Manuelpillai, Poonam Ligam, George Smythe, Euan M Wallace, Jonathan Hirst, David W Walker |
Journal | American journal of obstetrics and gynecology
(Am J Obstet Gynecol)
Vol. 192
Issue 1
Pg. 280-8
(Jan 2005)
ISSN: 0002-9378 [Print] United States |
PMID | 15672037
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Chemical References |
- Lipopolysaccharides
- RNA, Messenger
- Kynurenine
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Topics |
- Case-Control Studies
- Female
- Humans
- Kynurenine
(genetics, metabolism)
- Lipopolysaccharides
(toxicity)
- Placenta
(drug effects, enzymology, metabolism, microbiology)
- Pregnancy
- Pregnancy Complications, Infectious
(metabolism)
- RNA, Messenger
(metabolism)
- Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Up-Regulation
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