Prenatal physical activity and diet composition affect the expression of nutrient transporters and mTOR signaling molecules in the human placenta

• Published in: Placenta (Eastbourne) Vol. 36; no. 2; pp. 204 - 212
• Main Authors: Brett, K.E, Ferraro, Z.M, Holcik, M, Adamo, K.B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Ltd 01-02-2015
• Subjects: Adult; Biological Transport - genetics; Diet; Energy Metabolism - genetics; Female; Food; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Internal Medicine; Male; Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Membrane Transport Proteins - genetics; Membrane Transport Proteins - metabolism; Motor Activity - physiology; mTOR; Nutrient transport; Obstetrics and Gynecology; Physical activity; Placenta; Placenta - metabolism; Pregnancy; Prenatal Care; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects - genetics; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects - metabolism; Signal Transduction - genetics; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases - genetics; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases - metabolism; mTOR; Placenta; Nutrient transport; Physical activity; Diet
• ISSN: 0143-4004; 1532-3102
• DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2014.11.015

Abstract Introduction Adequate nutrient delivery to the fetus is essential for optimal growth. Differences in prenatal physical activity level and diet quality influence maternal energy balance and these factors may alter placental nutrient transport. We investigated the associations between meeting physical activity guidelines and the quality of maternal diet on the expression of genes involved in fatty acid, amino acid and glucose transport, and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and insulin signaling in the placenta from 16 term pregnancies. Methods Physical activity was directly measured with accelerometry, diet composition was assessed with 24 h dietary recalls, and gene expression was measured with custom polymerase chain reaction (PCR) arrays. Results Women who met physical activity guidelines had lower gene expression of fatty acid transport protein 4 ( FATP4) , insulin-like growth factor 1 ( IGF1) , and the beta non-catalytic subunit of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), and a higher expression of SNAT2 . There was a strong positive correlation observed between total sugar intake and glucose transporter 1 ( GLUT1 ) ( r  = 0.897, p  = 0.000, n  = 12), and inverse correlations between total sugar and mTOR and IGF1 expression. Percentage of total calories from protein was inversely related to insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R) ( r  = −0.605, p  = 0.028, n  = 13). Discussion Variations in maternal physical activity and diet composition altered the expression of genes involved in fatty acid, amino acid and glucose transport and mTOR signaling. Future research on placental nutrient transport should include direct measures of maternal PA and dietary habits to help eliminate confounding factors.