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Assessing erythroferrone and iron homeostasis in preeclamptic and normotensive pregnancies : A retrospective study

Masoumi, Zahra LU orcid ; Hansson, Lucas R. ; Hansson, Eva LU ; Ahlm, Evelina ; Mezey, Eva ; Erlandsson, Lena LU and Hansson, Stefan R. LU orcid (2023) In Placenta 133. p.10-18
Abstract

Introduction: Preeclampsia (PE) is a pregnancy-related disorder associated with maternal hypertension and placental dysfunction. A significant micronutrient during pregnancy is iron, which is important in cellular functions. While iron absorption increases in pregnancy, little is known about the exact mechanisms regulating maternal iron levels and transfer through the placenta in normal and complicated pregnancies. Methods: In this retrospective study, we investigated the regulation of maternal and placental iron availability and storage, in normotensive and pregnancies complicated by early- or late-onset PE. Methods used were analysis of clinical records, ELISA analysis on plasma samples, immunofluorescent and Prussian Blue analysis on... (More)

Introduction: Preeclampsia (PE) is a pregnancy-related disorder associated with maternal hypertension and placental dysfunction. A significant micronutrient during pregnancy is iron, which is important in cellular functions. While iron absorption increases in pregnancy, little is known about the exact mechanisms regulating maternal iron levels and transfer through the placenta in normal and complicated pregnancies. Methods: In this retrospective study, we investigated the regulation of maternal and placental iron availability and storage, in normotensive and pregnancies complicated by early- or late-onset PE. Methods used were analysis of clinical records, ELISA analysis on plasma samples, immunofluorescent and Prussian Blue analysis on placenta biopsies. Results: Focusing on erythroferrone (ERFE) as a new marker and hormonal regulator of iron, our results demonstrated altered maternal ERFE levels in PE. We are the first to report the expression of ERFE in trophoblasts and indicate its lower levels in early-onset PE placentas. These changes were associated with lower placental transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1) in syncytiotrophoblasts in both early- and late-onset PE. In addition, maternal plasma ERFE levels were elevated in both early- and late-onset PE and hepcidin levels reduced in early-onset PE. Unaltered maternal plasma IL-6 levels suggest mechanism other than inflammation being involved in altered iron regulation in PE pregnancy. Discussion: Our data supports a deregulation in maternal iron bioavailability in early- and late-onset PE vs normotensive pregnancies. The exact role of placental ERFE in regulating maternal-placental-fetal iron transport axis requires further investigation.

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author
; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Erythroferrone/iron homeostasis/preeclampsia/placenta
in
Placenta
volume
133
pages
9 pages
publisher
W.B. Saunders
external identifiers
  • pmid:36696784
  • scopus:85147557142
ISSN
0143-4004
DOI
10.1016/j.placenta.2023.01.008
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
Publisher Copyright: © 2023 The Authors
id
6c6503fe-22fe-4e3a-bee9-b2cd4cd7cd1f
date added to LUP
2023-06-30 12:44:16
date last changed
2024-04-19 23:10:37
@article{6c6503fe-22fe-4e3a-bee9-b2cd4cd7cd1f,
  abstract     = {{<p>Introduction: Preeclampsia (PE) is a pregnancy-related disorder associated with maternal hypertension and placental dysfunction. A significant micronutrient during pregnancy is iron, which is important in cellular functions. While iron absorption increases in pregnancy, little is known about the exact mechanisms regulating maternal iron levels and transfer through the placenta in normal and complicated pregnancies. Methods: In this retrospective study, we investigated the regulation of maternal and placental iron availability and storage, in normotensive and pregnancies complicated by early- or late-onset PE. Methods used were analysis of clinical records, ELISA analysis on plasma samples, immunofluorescent and Prussian Blue analysis on placenta biopsies. Results: Focusing on erythroferrone (ERFE) as a new marker and hormonal regulator of iron, our results demonstrated altered maternal ERFE levels in PE. We are the first to report the expression of ERFE in trophoblasts and indicate its lower levels in early-onset PE placentas. These changes were associated with lower placental transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1) in syncytiotrophoblasts in both early- and late-onset PE. In addition, maternal plasma ERFE levels were elevated in both early- and late-onset PE and hepcidin levels reduced in early-onset PE. Unaltered maternal plasma IL-6 levels suggest mechanism other than inflammation being involved in altered iron regulation in PE pregnancy. Discussion: Our data supports a deregulation in maternal iron bioavailability in early- and late-onset PE vs normotensive pregnancies. The exact role of placental ERFE in regulating maternal-placental-fetal iron transport axis requires further investigation.</p>}},
  author       = {{Masoumi, Zahra and Hansson, Lucas R. and Hansson, Eva and Ahlm, Evelina and Mezey, Eva and Erlandsson, Lena and Hansson, Stefan R.}},
  issn         = {{0143-4004}},
  keywords     = {{Erythroferrone/iron homeostasis/preeclampsia/placenta}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{03}},
  pages        = {{10--18}},
  publisher    = {{W.B. Saunders}},
  series       = {{Placenta}},
  title        = {{Assessing erythroferrone and iron homeostasis in preeclamptic and normotensive pregnancies : A retrospective study}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.placenta.2023.01.008}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.placenta.2023.01.008}},
  volume       = {{133}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}