This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a related Letter to the Editor Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Copyright Permission Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Bajoria, R. Articles by Hancock, M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Bajoria, R. Articles by Hancock, M.

Placenta as a Link between Amino Acids, Insulin-IGF Axis, and Low Birth Weight: Evidence from Twin Studies

University of Manchester, Academic Unit of Obstetrics and Gynecology, St. Mary’s Hospital for Women and Children (R.B., S.W.), Manchester, M13 OJH United Kingdom; Imperial College School of Medicine, Departments of Maternal and Fetal Medicine (S.R.S.) and Clinical Chemistry (M.H.), Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, SW 6 United Kingdom

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Dr. Rekha Bajoria, M.D., Ph.D., St. Mary’s Hospital for Women and Children, Whitworth Park, Manchester, M13 OJH United Kingdom. E-mail: rbajoria{at}doctors.net.uk

Current evidence suggests that reduced placental transport of amino acids regulates fetal growth. We determined the association between fetal nutrition and the insulin-IGF axis by measuring the plasma concentrations of amino acids, insulin, IGF-I and IGF-binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) in maternal and cord blood from gestational age-matched dichorionic (DC) twins with (n = 10) and without discordant birth weights (n = 10).

In the growth-restricted (IUGR) twins, fetal concentrations of total essential (P < 0.01), nonessential (P < 0.01), and branched chain amino acids (P < 0.01) were lower than those in the appropriate for gestational age co-twins and concordant twin pairs. The IUGR twins had lower fetal concentrations of insulin (P < 0.001) and IGF-I (P < 0.05) and higher concentrations of IGFBP-1 (P < 0.01) than their appropriate for gestational age co-twins. In the discordant group, fetal IGFBP-1 had a negative association with fetal insulin (r = 0.71; P < 0.001), total essential amino acids (r = 0.78; P < 0.001), and branched chain amino acids (r = 0.64; P < 0.01). There was a positive correlation between total essential amino acids (r = 0.63; P < 0.001) and branched chain amino acids (r = 0.58; P < 0.01) and plasma insulin. However, there were no associations among fetal insulin, IGFBP-1 and nonessential amino acids.

These data demonstrate the link between the reduction in certain essential and nonessential amino acids and alterations in fetal circulating levels of insulin and IGFBP-1, in growth-restricted twins.

This work was supported by a grant from the Research Graduate and Support Unit, University of Manchester (Manchester, UK).

Abbreviations: AGA, Appropriate for gestational age; CI, confidence interval; DC, dichorionic; DZ, dizygotic; IGFBP, IGF-binding protein; IUGR, intrauterine growth-restricted; MZ, monozygotic.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. Bajoria, S. R. Sooranna, and R. Chatterjee Type 1 Collagen Marker of Bone Turnover, Insulin-Like Growth Factor, and Leptin in Dichorionic Twins with Discordant Birth Weight J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., November 1, 2006; 91(11): 4696 - 4701. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Shibata, R. W. Powers, A. Rajakumar, F. von Versen-Hoynck, M. J. Gallaher, D. L. Lykins, J. M. Roberts, and C. A. Hubel Angiotensin II decreases system A amino acid transporter activity in human placental villous fragments through AT1 receptor activation Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, November 1, 2006; 291(5): E1009 - E1016. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. E Street, P. Seghini, S. Fieni, M. A. Ziveri, C. Volta, D. Martorana, I. Viani, D. Gramellini, and S. Bernasconi Changes in interleukin-6 and IGF system and their relationships in placenta and cord blood in newborns with fetal growth restriction compared with controls. Eur. J. Endocrinol., October 1, 2006; 155(4): 567 - 574. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. D. Veldhuis, J. N. Roemmich, E. J. Richmond, and C. Y. Bowers Somatotropic and Gonadotropic Axes Linkages in Infancy, Childhood, and the Puberty-Adult Transition Endocr. Rev., April 1, 2006; 27(2): 101 - 140. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				V. E. Murphy, R. Smith, W. B. Giles, and V. L. Clifton Endocrine Regulation of Human Fetal Growth: The Role of the Mother, Placenta, and Fetus Endocr. Rev., April 1, 2006; 27(2): 141 - 169. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. D. Veldhuis, J. N. Roemmich, E. J. Richmond, A. D. Rogol, J. C. Lovejoy, M. Sheffield-Moore, N. Mauras, and C. Y. Bowers Endocrine Control of Body Composition in Infancy, Childhood, and Puberty Endocr. Rev., February 1, 2005; 26(1): 114 - 146. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. Bouhours-Nouet, P. May-Panloup, R. Coutant, F. B. de Casson, P. Descamps, O. Douay, P. Reynier, P. Ritz, Y. Malthiery, and G. Simard Maternal smoking is associated with mitochondrial DNA depletion and respiratory chain complex III deficiency in placenta Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, January 1, 2005; 288(1): E171 - E177. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]