Iron-dependent apoptosis causes embryotoxicity in inflamed and obese pregnancy.

ABSTRACT: Iron is essential for a healthy pregnancy, and iron supplementation is nearly universally recommended, regardless of maternal iron status. A signal of potential harm is the U-shaped association between maternal ferritin, a marker of iron stores, and risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. However, ferritin is also induced by inflammation and may overestimate iron stores during inflammation or infection. In this study, we use mouse models to determine whether maternal iron loading, inflammation, or their interaction cause poor pregnancy outcomes. Only maternal exposure to both iron excess and inflammation, but not either condition alone, causes embryo malformations and demise. Maternal iron excess potentiates embryo injury during both LPS-induced acute inflammation and obesity-induced chronic m

SUBMITTER: Fisher AL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8242011 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature