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Mothers' metabolisms are influenced by their babies' genes
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Highlight:
Olivier S. Descamps of the Centre de Recherche Médicale de
Jolimont in Haine Saint-Paul and of the Université Catholique
de Louvain in Brussels led researchers who determined that a baby's
genes impact its mother's ability to metabolize fats.
Original source:
http://pregnancyandbaby.com/read/articles/5810.htm
Summary:
The researchers, led by Olivier S. Descamps of the Centre de Recherche
Médicale de Jolimont in Haine Saint-Paul and of the Université
Catholique de Louvain in Brussels, studied genes and proteins involved
in fat metabolism from the blood and placenta of 525 pregnant women.
Because all cells from the placenta originate from the fetus, they
are a good indication of the genes and proteins produced by the
baby.
Descamps and his co-workers discovered that the baby's genes had
almost as much influence as the mother's genes on her lipoprotein
levels.
Because increased levels of lipoproteins can lead to pre-eclampsia
and pancreatitis in pregnant women and also increase their future
risk of cardiovascular disease, these findings are of particular
interest to the medical community.
"Lipoproteins represent the only way for lipids, which are
insoluble in water, to be transported through the blood circulation,
composed exclusively of water."
The study focused on two specific proteins involved in lipid metabolism,
lipoprotein lipase and apolipoprotein E. "Apolipoprotein E
and lipoprotein lipase play important roles in the degradation of
triglyceride-rich lipoproteins," notes Descamps.
The researchers looked at several genetic variations (also known
as polymorphisms) of lipoprotein lipase and apolipoprotein E that
are known to influence the concentrations of triglycerides and cholesterol
in the general population.
They found that when these polymorphisms were present in the babies,
their mothers' triglyceride and cholesterol levels were influenced
to the same extent that they would be if the polymorphisms were
present in the mothers.
These findings have implications for many women who are advised
not to have children due to genetic defects in lipoprotein metabolism.
Because their fetuses can compensate for their defects, the women
may actually be able to bear children without complications.
http://www.newstarget.com/017791.html
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