Placental uptake and metabolism of 25(OH)vitamin D determine its activity within the fetoplacental unit.
eLife 2021 ; 11: .
Ashley B, Simner C, Manousopoulou A, Jenkinson C, Hey F, Frost JM, Rezwan FI, White CH, Lofthouse EM, Hyde E, Cooke LDF, Barton S, Mahon P, Curtis EM, Moon RJ, Crozier SR, Inskip HM, Godfrey KM, Holloway JW, Cooper C, Jones KS, Lewis RM, Hewison M, Garbis SDD, Branco MR, Harvey NC, Cleal JK
DOI : 10.7554/eLife.71094
PubMed ID : 35256050
PMCID : PMC8903835
URL : https://elifesciences.org/articles/71094
Abstract
Pregnancy 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations are associated with maternal and fetal health outcomes. Using physiological human placental perfusion and villous explants, we investigate the role of the placenta in regulating the relationships between maternal 25(OH)D and fetal physiology. We demonstrate active placental uptake of 25(OH)D by endocytosis, placental metabolism of 25(OH)D into 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D and active 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25(OH)D], with subsequent release of these metabolites into both the maternal and fetal circulations. Active placental transport of 25(OH)D and synthesis of 1,25(OH)D demonstrate that fetal supply is dependent on placental function rather than simply the availability of maternal 25(OH)D. We demonstrate that 25(OH)D exposure induces rapid effects on the placental transcriptome and proteome. These map to multiple pathways central to placental function and thereby fetal development, independent of vitamin D transfer. Our data suggest that the underlying epigenetic landscape helps dictate the transcriptional response to vitamin D treatment. This is the first quantitative study demonstrating vitamin D transfer and metabolism by the human placenta, with widespread effects on the placenta itself. These data demonstrate a complex interplay between vitamin D and the placenta and will inform future interventions using vitamin D to support fetal development and maternal adaptations to pregnancy.