The Placenta-A New Source of Bile Acids during Healthy Pregnancy? First Results of a Gene Expression Study in Humans and Mice.

ABSTRACT: Bile acids (BAs) are natural ligands for several receptors modulating cell activities. BAs are synthesized via the classic (neutral) and alternative (acidic) pathways. The classic pathway is initiated by CYP7A1/Cyp7a1, converting cholesterol to 7α-hydroxycholesterol, while the alternative pathway starts with hydroxylation of the cholesterol side chain, producing an oxysterol. In addition to originating from the liver, BAs are reported to be synthesized in the brain. We aimed at determining if the placenta potentially represents an extrahepatic source of BAs. Therefore, the mRNAs coding for selected enzymes involved in the hepatic BA synthesis machinery were screened in human term and CD1 mouse late gestation placentas from healthy pregnancies. Additionally, data from murine placenta and br

SUBMITTER: Ontsouka E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10253767 | biostudies-literature | 2023 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature