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The role of ABCA1 in the human placenta: physiological relevance and implication in diseases of pregnancy

English title The role of ABCA1 in the human placenta: physiological relevance and implication in diseases of pregnancy
Applicant Albrecht Christiane
Number 119984
Funding scheme Project funding (Div. I-III)
Research institution Institut für Biochemie und Molekulare Medizin Universität Bern
Institution of higher education University of Berne - BE
Main discipline Biochemistry
Start/End 01.11.2008 - 30.04.2012
Approved amount 279'000.00
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All Disciplines (6)

Discipline
Biochemistry
Clinical Pathophysiology
Pathophysiology
Molecular Biology
Cellular Biology, Cytology
Gynaecology

Keywords (2)

transport; placental disorder

Lay Summary (German)

Lead
Lay summary
Das Membranprotein ABCA1 spielt eine wichtige Rolle im zellulären Cholesterintransport und wurde bislang beim Menschen vor allem mit erblich bedingten Lipiderkrankungen in Verbindung gebracht. Unsere bisherigen humanmedizinischen Studien mit Patientinnen, die an einer schwerwiegenden Schwangerschaftserkrankung namens „Antiphospholipidsyndrom“ leiden, haben gezeigt, dass ABCA1 offensichtlich für eine gesunde Entwicklung der Plazenta und damit für die Gesundheit des Föten unabdingbar ist. Die essentielle Rolle von ABCA1 in der Plazenta wurde durch Untersuchungen an ABCA1-defizienten Mäusen bestätigt, die Funktion von ABCA1 bzw. die zugrundeliegenden molekularen Grundlagen sind jedoch immer noch weitgehend ungeklärt. In dem vorliegenden Forschungsprojekt sollen nunmehr in Zusammenarbeit mit der Frauenklinik des Inselspitals Bern sowie mit der Abteilung Pathologie der Universität Bern die molekularen Wirkungsmechanismen und Regulationsprozesse von ABCA1 in der humanen Plazenta intensiv untersucht werden und dessen Bedeutung im Krankheitsbild Antiphospholipidsyndrom aufgeklärt werden. Ferner wird auch die wichtige Frage untersucht, ob ABCA1 in weiteren Schwangerschaftserkrankungen eine Rolle spielt bzw. inwieweit auch andere Lipid-/Cholesterintransporter in der Genese oder Pathologie dieser Schwangerschaftserkrankungen involviert sind. Die Erkenntnisse dieser Studien könnten sowohl für die Diagnose wie auch für die Entwicklung therapeutischer Interventionsmöglichkeiten bei diversen Schwangerschaftserkrankungen von grossem Interesse sein.
Direct link to Lay Summary Last update: 21.02.2013

Responsible applicant and co-applicants

Employees

Publications

Publication
ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN CHOLESTEROL BLOOD LEVELS, PLACENTAL LIPID CONTENT AND EXPRESSION OF CHOLESTEROL TRANSPORTERS IN HEALTHY AND DISEASED PLACENTAS
Koerner Meike, Baumann Marc, Huang Xiao, Surbek Daniel, Albrecht Christiane (2013), ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN CHOLESTEROL BLOOD LEVELS, PLACENTAL LIPID CONTENT AND EXPRESSION OF CHOLESTEROL TRANSPORTERS IN HEALTHY AND DISEASED PLACENTAS, in Placenta, Elsevier, Amsterdam.
IFPA Meeting 2013 Workshop Report I: Diabetes in pregnancy, maternal dyslipidemia in pregnancy, oxygen in placental development, stem cells and pregnancy pathology.
Abumaree M H, Alahari S, Albrecht C, Aye I L M H, Bainbridge S, Chauvin S, Clifton V L, Desoye G, Ermini L, Giuffrida D, Graham C H, Huang Q-T, Kalionis B, Lager S, Leach L, Li Y, Litvack M L, Nuzzo A M, Moretto-Zita M, O'Tierney-Ginn P, Powell T, Rolfo A, Salomon C, Serov A, Westwood M (2013), IFPA Meeting 2013 Workshop Report I: Diabetes in pregnancy, maternal dyslipidemia in pregnancy, oxygen in placental development, stem cells and pregnancy pathology., Elsevier, Placenta.
Increased placental phospholipid levels in pre-eclamptic pregnancies.
Huang Xiao, Jain Arjun, Baumann Marc, Körner Meike, Surbek Daniel, Bütikofer Peter, Albrecht Christiane (2013), Increased placental phospholipid levels in pre-eclamptic pregnancies., in International journal of molecular sciences, 14(2), 3487-99.
Maternal cholestasis during pregnancy programs metabolic disease in offspring
Papacleovoulou Georgia, Abu-Hayyeh Shadi, Nikolopoulou Evanthia, Briz Oscar, Owen Bryn M., Nikolova Vanya, Ovadia Caroline, Huang Xiao, Vaarasmaki Marja, Baumann Marc, Jansen Eugene, Albrecht Christiane, Jarvelin Marjo-Riitta, Marin Jose J. G., Knisely A. S., Williamson Catherine (2013), Maternal cholestasis during pregnancy programs metabolic disease in offspring, in JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION, 123(7), 3172-3181.
Placental ABCA1 and ABCG1 expression in gestational disease: pre-eclampsia affects ABCA1 levels in syncytiotrophoblasts.
Baumann M, Körner M, Huang X, Wenger F, Surbek D, Albrecht C (2013), Placental ABCA1 and ABCG1 expression in gestational disease: pre-eclampsia affects ABCA1 levels in syncytiotrophoblasts., in Placenta, 34(11), 1079-86.
RNA degradation differentially affects quantitative mRNA measurements of endogenous reference genes in human placenta
Huang X., Baumann M., Nikitina L., Wenger F., Surbek D., Koerner M., Albrecht C. (2013), RNA degradation differentially affects quantitative mRNA measurements of endogenous reference genes in human placenta, in PLACENTA, 34(7), 544-547.
IFPA Meeting 2011 workshop report I: Placenta: Predicting future health; roles of lipids in the growth and development of feto-placental unit; placental nutrient sensing; placental research to solve clinical problems--a translational approach.
Acharya G, Albrecht C, Benton S J, Cotechini T, Dechend R, Dilworth M R, Duttaroy A K, Grotmol T, Heazell A E, Jansson T, Johnstone E D, Jones H N, Jones R L, Lager S, Laine K, Nagirnaja L, Nystad M, Powell T, Redman C, Sadovsky Y, Sibley C, Troisi R, Wadsack C, Westwood M, Lash G E (2012), IFPA Meeting 2011 workshop report I: Placenta: Predicting future health; roles of lipids in the growth and development of feto-placental unit; placental nutrient sensing; placental research to solve clinical problems--a translational approach., Elsevier, Trophoblast Research.
The lipid transporters ABCA1 and ABCG1 are differentially expressed in preeclamptic and IUGR placentas
Körner Meike, Wenger Fabian, Nikitina Liudmila, Baumann Marc, Surbek Daniel, Albrecht Christiane (2012), The lipid transporters ABCA1 and ABCG1 are differentially expressed in preeclamptic and IUGR placentas, in Pregnancy Hypertension, GenevaElsevier, Amsterdam.
ABCA1 and placental cholesterol efflux: A reply
Albrecht C, Nikitina L, Wenger F, Baumann M, Surbek D, Korner M (2011), ABCA1 and placental cholesterol efflux: A reply, in PLACENTA, 32(9), 710-711.
ATP-BINDING CASSETTE TRANSPORTER A1 EXPRESSION IN THE VILLOUS TROPHOBLAST IN GESTATIONAL DISEASES
Wenger F, Nikitina L, Baumann M, Surbek D, Albrecht C, Korner M (2011), ATP-BINDING CASSETTE TRANSPORTER A1 EXPRESSION IN THE VILLOUS TROPHOBLAST IN GESTATIONAL DISEASES, in Placenta, Elsevier, Placenta.
CELLULAR SITES OF ATP-BINDING CASSETTE TRANSPORTER A1 FUNCTION IN HUMAN PLACENTA: POSSIBLE LINKS TO PLACENTAL PHYSIOLOGY
Nikitina L, Wenger F, Baumann M, Surbek D, Koerner M, Albrecht C (2011), CELLULAR SITES OF ATP-BINDING CASSETTE TRANSPORTER A1 FUNCTION IN HUMAN PLACENTA: POSSIBLE LINKS TO PLACENTAL PHYSIOLOGY, in Placenta, Elsevier, Placenta.
Expression and localization pattern of ABCA1 in diverse human placental primary cells and tissues
Nikitina L, Wenger F, Baumann M, Surbek D, Korner M, Albrecht C (2011), Expression and localization pattern of ABCA1 in diverse human placental primary cells and tissues, in PLACENTA, 32(6), 420-430.
Type 2 diabetes is associated with reduced ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 gene expression, protein and function.
Patel Dipesh C, Albrecht Christiane, Pavitt Darrell, Paul Vijay, Pourreyron Celine, Newman Simon P, Godsland Ian F, Valabhji Jonathan, Johnston Desmond G (2011), Type 2 diabetes is associated with reduced ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 gene expression, protein and function., in PloS one, 6(7), 22142-22142.
Localisation of ABCA1 in First Trimester and Term Placental Tissues
Albrecht C, Nikitina L, Wenger F, Baumann M, Surbek D, Korner M (2010), Localisation of ABCA1 in First Trimester and Term Placental Tissues, in Placenta, Elsevier, Amsterdam.
A novel enzyme immunoassay specific for ABCA1 protein quantification in human tissues and cells
Paul V, Meyer HHD, Leidl K, Soumian S, Albrecht C (2008), A novel enzyme immunoassay specific for ABCA1 protein quantification in human tissues and cells, in JOURNAL OF LIPID RESEARCH, 49(10), 2259-2267.

Collaboration

Group / person Country
Types of collaboration
Institute of Patholgy, University of Bern Switzerland (Europe)
- in-depth/constructive exchanges on approaches, methods or results
- Publication
Kings College London Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Europe)
- in-depth/constructive exchanges on approaches, methods or results

Scientific events

Active participation

Title Type of contribution Title of article or contribution Date Place Persons involved
International Federation of Placenta Associations Meeting 2013 Poster Associations between cholesterol blood levels, placental lipid content and expression of cholesterol transporters in healthy and diseased placentas. 11.09.2013 Whistler, Canada Albrecht Christiane; Surbek Daniel;
International Federation of Placenta Associations Meeting 2013 Talk given at a conference Associations between cholesterol blood levels, placental lipid content and expression of cholesterol transporters in healthy and diseased placentas. 11.09.2013 Whistler, Canada Albrecht Christiane;
Biomedical Transporters 2013 Poster Reduced expression of ABCA1 at the materno-fetal interface is associated with increased placental phospholipid levels in pre-eclampsia. 11.08.2013 St. Moritz, Switzerland Surbek Daniel; Albrecht Christiane;
International Federation of Placenta Associations Meeting 2012 Poster The lipid transporters ABCA1 and ABCG1 are differentially expressed in syncytiotrophoblasts of preeclamptic and IUGR placentas. 18.09.2012 Hiroshima, Japan Wenger Fabian Oliver; Albrecht Christiane; Surbek Daniel; Nikitina Liudmila;
XVII International Society for the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy World Congress 2012 Poster The lipid transporters ABCA1 and ABCG1 are differentially expressed in preeclamptic and IUGR placentas. 09.07.2012 Geneva, Switzerland Albrecht Christiane; Nikitina Liudmila; Wenger Fabian Oliver; Surbek Daniel;
International Federation of Placenta Associations Meeting 2011 Poster ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 expression in the villous trophoblast in gestational diseases 14.09.2011 Geilo, Norway Albrecht Christiane; Wenger Fabian Oliver; Nikitina Liudmila; Surbek Daniel;
International Federation of Placenta Associations Meeting 2011 Talk given at a conference Cholesterol transport: localization and roles of ABCA1 in human placenta. 14.09.2011 Geilo, Norway Albrecht Christiane;
International Federation of Placenta Associations Meeting 2011 Poster Cellular sites of ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 function in human placenta: possible links to placental physiology. 14.09.2011 Geilo, Norway Albrecht Christiane; Nikitina Liudmila; Wenger Fabian Oliver; Surbek Daniel;
BioMedical Transporters 2011: Membrane Transporters in Drug Discovery Poster Cellular sites of ABCA1 function in human placenta: possible links to placental physiology 07.08.2011 Grindelwald, Switzerland Nikitina Liudmila; Albrecht Christiane; Wenger Fabian Oliver; Surbek Daniel;
Seminar Series 2011 Imperial College London: ABCA1 in placental tissues: more than a cholesterol transporter? Individual talk ABCA1 in placental tissues: more than a cholesterol transporter? 23.06.2011 London, UK, Great Britain and Northern Ireland Albrecht Christiane;


Associated projects

Number Title Start Funding scheme
149958 Regulation and Role of ABCA1-mediated Cholesterol Transfer in the Human Placenta in Health and Disease: Protecting the Fetal Environment and/or Maintaining Placental Endocrine Function? 01.05.2014 Project funding (Div. I-III)
149958 Regulation and Role of ABCA1-mediated Cholesterol Transfer in the Human Placenta in Health and Disease: Protecting the Fetal Environment and/or Maintaining Placental Endocrine Function? 01.05.2014 Project funding (Div. I-III)
139231 Advancement of functional genomics research at the University of Bern by extension of LC-MS platform 01.07.2012 R'EQUIP

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