Ferroportin 1 and hephaestin expression in BeWo cell line with different iron treatment

Abstract

The process of placental iron transfer is an important physiological process during pregnancy. However, the molecular mechanism of placental iron transport has not been completely elucidated until now. Ferroportin 1 (FPN1) and hephaestin (Heph) have been identified as the important molecules involved in duodenal iron export. However, whether they participate in the placental iron efflux has been undefined until now. In this study, the BeWo cells were treated with desferrioxamine and Holo-transferrin human in different concentrations and harvested at 48 and 72 h. The mRNA expression of FPN1 and Heph was detected with quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, and the protein expression was detected with western blots. The results showed an up-regulated FPN1 expression with desferrioxamine treatment and down-regulated expression with Holo-transferrin human supplementation. However, the change of FPN1 expression at protein level was limited. Heph expression enhanced when cells were treated with desferrioxamine although the quantity of Heph expression was low. Heph expression showed no significant change with Holo-transferrin human supplementation. It indicates that FPN1 may participate in placental iron transport, and placental FPN1 expression is obviously not dependent on the iron regular element/iron regular protein regulation. An alternatively spliced FPN1 isoform that lacks an iron regular element may be the predominant expression in BeWo cells. It also demonstrates that Heph is active in placenta but may not play a key role in placental iron transport because it is not the main part of placental copper oxidase.

Iron regulates the expression of ferroportin 1 in the cultured hFOB 1.19 osteoblast cell line

“…Similar results have also been observed in bronchial epithelial cells (25), macrophages (18–20), cardiocytes (24) and hepatocytes (23). However, the expression of FPN1 exhibited opposite effects in enterocytes (21,22) and placental syncytiotrophoblast cells (33), where excessive iron decreased the expression of FPN1 and iron deficiency increased the expression of FPN1. This difference may be associated with cell type.…”

The placenta: the forgotten essential organ of iron transport

“…Cell culture and rat studies show that iron deficiency increases placental DMT1 expression but has little effect on FPN1 expression. 75,106,107 A study in 40 healthy pregnant women found no difference in placental FPN1 expression between anemic and iron-replete women. 108 These data echo the observations between fetal iron status and placental iron transporter expression and again suggest that placental TFR1 is the major target of regulation by systemic iron status.…”

“…73 Heph has not been localized to human placenta, but expression of Heph mRNA has been demonstrated in rat placenta 74 and human BeWo choriocarcinomas. 75 Hemoglobin levels in sla pups is usually decreased compared with that in wild-type pups, though there is some overlap in the phenotypes. 76 Placental transfer of maternally injected radioiron in the second half of pregnancy was not different between sla and wild-type mice, although sla pups accumulated less radioiron given in the maternal diet throughout pregnancy.…”

Proteínas relacionadas con el metabolismo del hierro corporal

“…El fin de estas ferroxidasas es que el hierro exportado de las células, pase del estado Fe ++ al Fe +++ , para ser reconocido por la Tf (9,28,64,65).…”

“…En este caso, la regulación no es postranscripcional si no que está a cargo de la Hepcidina (Hcp), un péptido de 25 aa sintetizado en el hígado. Al parecer, la Fpn tiene una isoforma que carece de IRE que se ha localizado en el duodeno y en células precursoras de eritrocitos; esta isoforma es la que responde a la regulación por la Hpc (65). En ausencia de Hpc, el sistema IRE/IRP puede ser el principal mecanismo regulador de la expresión de la Fpn.…”