Placental DHA and mRNA levels of PPARγ and LXRα and their relationship to birth weight

Background A very large number of fatty acids play wide range of physiological roles in cellular growth and function in placental as well as fetal growth. However, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), in addition to its critical role in cellular membranes, is known to act as a ligand for several nuclear receptors and regulates the activity of transcription factor families like peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor, liver X receptor ( LXR ), retinoid X receptor ( RXR ), and sterol regulatory element binding protein ( SREBP ). These transcription factors and DHA are known to regulate the placental and fetal growth and development. Objective The objective of the present study was to examine the fatty acids and transcription factors in the placenta of women delivering low birth weight (LBW) babies. Methods The present study examines the fatty acid and mRNA levels of various transcription factors in the placentae of women delivering normal birth weight (NBW) (n = 38) and women delivering LBW (n = 36). Placental fatty acids were analyzed using gas chromatography. Placental mRNA levels of PPARα , PPARγ , SREBP-1c , LXRα , RXRα , and RXRγ were examined using quantitative real time PCR. Result Placental DHA levels and mRNA levels of placental PPARγ and LXRα were lower ( P PPARγ mRNA levels and placental DHA levels with baby weight ( P Conclusion Our data suggest that lower placental DHA and transcription factors may have a vital role in the etiology of LBW babies.