The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism Vol. 85, No. 1 85-88
Copyright © 2000 by The Endocrine Society
Plasma Apolipoprotein A-I and B Concentrations in Growth-Retarded Fetuses: A Link between Low Birth Weight and Adult Atherosclerosis
Nebojsa Radunovic,
Edward Kuczynski,
Todd Rosen,
Jelena Dukanac,
Spasoje Petkovic and
Charles J. Lockwood
Obstetrical and Gynecological Clinic of the University of Belgrade
School of Medicine (N.R., J.D., S.P.), 1000 Belgrade,
Yugoslavia; and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, New
York University School of Medicine (E.K., T.R., C.J.L.), New York, New
York 10016
Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Dr. Charles J. Lockwood, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, New York University School of Medicine, 550 First Avenue, New York, New York 10016. E-mail: charles.lockwood{at}med.nyu.edu
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Abstract
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Apolipoprotein B is elevated in growth-retarded compared with normally
grown fetuses, demonstrating a link between low birth weight and risk
of subsequent atherosclerosis. Increased apolipoprotein B levels and an
elevated apolipoprotein B to A-I ratio are predictors of atherogenesis.
Elevated apolipoprotein B levels in young adults have been linked to
atherosclerosis in later life, whereas impaired fetal growth has been
linked to higher than normal apolipoprotein B levels in adulthood. We
conducted this research to test the hypothesis that circulating
apolipoprotein A-I and B concentrations differ in growth-retarded
compared with normal fetuses. Fetal umbilical plasma samples were
obtained at diagnostic cordocenteses in 18 growth-retarded and 23
normally grown fetuses. Levels of apolipoprotein A-I and B were
measured by turbidimetric assay. There were no differences in median
(range) plasma apolipoprotein A-I concentrations between
growth-retarded and normal fetuses [0.61 (0.301.42)
vs. 0.60 (0.301.63) g/L, respectively;
P = 0.94]. In contrast, we found significantly
higher plasma apolipoprotein B levels in growth-retarded
vs. normal fetuses [0.62 (0.371.84)
vs. 0.40 (0.161.47) g/L, respectively;
P < 0.001]. Moreover, the ratio of apolipoprotein
B to A-I was significantly higher in growth-retarded than in normal
fetuses [1.00 (0.382.42) vs. 0.53 (0.311.80);
P = 0.005]. Levels of apolipoprotein B are
elevated in growth-retarded fetuses, suggesting a linkage between low
birth weight and adult-onset atherosclerosis.
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Introduction
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THE APOLIPOPROTEINS are important determinants
of the metabolism and structure of plasma lipoproteins. Apolipoprotein
A-I is a component of high density lipoproteins and an activator of
plasma lecithin/cholesterol acyltransferase. Apolipoprotein B contains
ligands for the receptor-mediated endocytosis of lipoproteins and is an
essential component of chylomicrons and low density lipoproteins (LDL)
(1). Increased apolipoprotein B levels and an elevated apolipoprotein B
to A-I ratio are considered to be the most sensitive predictors of
atherogenesis (2). Indeed, elevations in LDL, cholesterol, and
apolipoprotein B levels in young adults have recently been linked with
cardiovascular disease in later life (3).
Impaired fetal growth has been associated with elevated serum
cholesterol and apolipoprotein B concentrations in adult life (4).
Levels of apolipoprotein A-1 and B have been measured in fetuses
displaying normal growth (5), but there are no data available on
circulating fetal levels of apolipoproteins in growth-retarded fetuses.
Therefore, we designed this study in an effort to determine how early
altered apolipoprotein profiles could be related to abnormal growth. To
accomplish this, we measured plasma concentrations of apolipoprotein
A-I and B in growth-retarded and normally grown fetuses.
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Materials and Methods
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Participants were recruited from an ethnically homogeneous
population of women attending the obstetrical clinic at the University
of Belgrade School of Medicine who were scheduled to undergo diagnostic
cordocentesis. Demographic and obstetrical characteristics were
collected at the time of the procedure. A power analysis indicated the
need for 18 participants in each fetal growth group, as described
below. We therefore obtained serum samples from 18 growth-retarded
fetuses as well as 23 consecutive fetuses displaying appropriate growth
at similar gestational ages. The growth-retarded fetuses were
identified on the basis of an ultrasonographic estimate of fetal weight
less than the 10th percentile for a given gestational age that was
subsequently confirmed at delivery (6). Gestational age was based on
menstrual dates confirmed by an ultrasound examination performed
between 1820 weeks. Fetal blood samples were obtained at diagnostic
cordocentesis to assess karyotype, analyze fetal arterial blood gas, or
rule out fetal infection. None of these fetuses was aneuploid,
acidotic, or infected. Maternal blood samples were obtained from the
antecubital vein before the procedure. Exclusion criteria were maternal
diabetes, hypertension, cigarette smoking, and taking medications other
than prenatal vitamins or iron, illicit drugs, or steroids. Informed
consent was obtained from all patients enrolled in the project, and the
hospital ethics committee approved the study.
Cordocenteses were performed under strict aseptic conditions
using a 20-gauge 15-cm spinal needle, which was guided into the
umbilical vessel at the placental insertion by means of a 3.75-MHz
convex ultrasound probe (Toshiba SSA 90; Toshiba Medical Systems
S.R.L., Rome, Italy). Local anesthesia (1% lidocaine) was
employed without maternal sedation. After satisfactory umbilical access
was achieved, 3 ml fetal blood were obtained for diagnostic purposes.
Immediately after obtaining the blood sample, 0.5 ml normal saline was
injected to ascertain whether the sample was obtained from the
umbilical artery or vein. The absence of maternal blood or amniotic
fluid contamination was confirmed by Kleihauer-Betke analysis and assay
for coagulation factor V, respectively. Blood was collected in
heparinized tubes, and plasma was extracted by centrifugation at
1000 x g for 10 min at 4 C and stored at -20 C
until assayed for levels of apolipoprotein A-I and B.
Apolipoprotein A-I and B concentrations were measured using a
commercial turbidimetric assay (Roche Molecular Biochemicals, Indianapolis, IN). Intra- and interassay
coefficients of variation were less than 5.0%. The sensitivity of this
assay was 0.2 g/L for apolipoprotein A-I and 0.2 g/L for apolipoprotein
B. The assay had less than 1% cross-reactivity with other
apolipoproteins. To determine total triglyceride, cholesterol, high
density lipoprotein, and LDL levels, we employed standard colorimetric
assays (Randox Laboratories Ltd., Antrim, UK).
We performed a prospective power analysis to determine minimum sample
size per group. As we were primarily interested in differences in
apolipoprotein B levels in fetuses, we used our previously published
data on apolipoprotein B levels in normal fetuses (5) to estimate the
sample population mean. We established a minimal effect size of 33% as
clinically meaningful. With
= 0.05 and ß = 0.20, 18
samples/group provides sufficient statistical power. All statistical
analyses were performed using the JMP statistical software package
(version 3.22, SAS Institute, Inc., Cary, NC), and
included the Shapiro-Wilk test, Welch ANOVA, Wilcoxon rank sum test,
and regression analysis. P < 0.05 was considered
significant. Quantile box plots were used to illustrate the
interquartile range (box), median value (horizontal
line), and absolute range (range lines). Extreme points
beyond 1.5 times the box length (interquartile range) appear as
individual points.
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Results
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There were no procedure-related complications, including
bradycardia, fetal death, preterm delivery, or infection, and all
fetuses delivered uneventfully after 36 weeks. Table 1
summarizes demographic and obstetrical
characteristics as well as apolipoprotein levels among mothers with
normally grown compared with those in mothers with growth-retarded
fetuses. As expected, there were significant differences in fetal birth
weight between the study and control groups. Maternal parity and age
also differed between groups, consistent with published observations
that primiparous and younger mothers tend to have smaller infants (7, 8). No statistically significant differences were noted in
concentrations of either apolipoprotein A-I or B among mothers with
growth-retarded compared with normally grown fetuses.
There was no difference in median (range) plasma apolipoprotein A-I
concentrations between growth-retarded and normal fetuses [0.61
(0.301.42) vs. 0.60 (0.301.63) g/L, respectively;
P = 0.94]. In contrast, plasma apolipoprotein B
concentrations in growth-retarded fetuses were significantly higher
than those in normal fetuses [0.62 (0.371.84) vs. 0.40
(0.161.47) g/L, respectively; P < 0.001; Fig. 1
]. The ratio of apolipoprotein B to A-I was
significantly higher in growth-retarded compared with normal fetuses
[1.00 (0.382.42) vs. 0.53 (0.311.80); P
= 0.005; Fig. 2
]. There was no correlation
between maternal and fetal apolipoprotein A-I or B levels (r =
0.05; P = 0.85 and r = -0.41; P =
0.12, respectively) among pregnancies with growth-retarded fetuses.

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Figure 1. Quantile box plots of plasma apolipoprotein
(Apo) A-I (left) and B (right) levels in
fetuses with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) compared with those
in fetuses with normal growth. Differences were assessed by Wilcoxon
rank sum test. Apo B differences are significant at
P < 0.001.
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Figure 2. Quantile box plots of plasma apolipoprotein
(Apo) B to A-I ratio in fetuses with intrauterine growth retardation
(IUGR) compared with that in fetuses with normal growth. Differences
were assessed by Wilcoxon rank sum test. P = 0.005.
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Among normal and intrauterine growth-retarded fetuses, no significant
correlation was found between fetal apolipoprotein A-I or B and
gestational age. Among normal and growth-retarded fetuses there
were no differences in either apolipoprotein A-I or B levels between
samples obtained from the umbilical artery compared with those from the
umbilical vein (Table 2
). This finding
indicates that the placenta does not significantly alter plasma
apolipoprotein A-I or B levels.
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Table 2. Apo A-I and Apo B concentrations in the umbilical
arteries and veins of normal growth and growth-retarded fetuses
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Total fetal triglyceride levels were positively correlated with
gestational age, but did not differ between the growth-retarded and
normal growth groups (Fig. 3
). Total
triglyceride values for each group are presented in Table 3
.

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Figure 3. Scattergram of total triglycerides by
gestational age in normal (+) and IUGR (open
boxes) fetuses. Triglyceride concentrations were
positively correlated with gestational age in both normal (solid
line) and IUGR (dashed line) fetuses by linear
regression analysis, but the two groups did not differ significantly
from each other.
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Discussion
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We have previously reported that concentrations of fetal
plasma apolipoprotein A-1 and B do not correlate with gestational age
and are substantially lower than matched maternal levels in
uncomplicated pregnancies (5). We now report a significant difference
in apolipoprotein B concentrations and the ratio of apolipoprotein B to
A-I in growth-retarded compared with normally grown fetuses.
Recently, Barker et al. reported an inverse correlation of
birth weight and neonatal abdominal circumference with adult
cholesterol, LDL, and apolipoprotein B levels (4). Our findings suggest
that the association between aberrant lipoprotein metabolism and low
birth weight is present by the time intrauterine growth restriction is
clinically evident. Others have demonstrated that abnormal lipoprotein
profiles in childhood persist into adult life (9, 10, 11).
Additionally, both the prevalence and severity of carotid artery
atherosclerosis in later life have been linked to lower birth weights
(12), and a comprehensive Swedish cohort study found a strong
relationship between impaired fetal growth and subsequent
cardiovascular disease mortality (13). Taken together, these findings
strongly support the Barker hypothesis that fetal growth restriction is
associated with a chronic pattern of atherogenic lipoprotein
metabolism. The absence of any significant difference in total
triglyceride levels between the two groups in our study further
supports a constitutional basis for the differences in apolipoprotein
metabolism that we observed.
The literature on neonatal lipoprotein concentrations and growth is
somewhat inconsistent. Andersen et al. observed elevated
levels of serum LDL in growth-retarded neonates (14). Moreover, Low and
colleagues found ethnic differences in neonatal umbilical vein
apolipoprotein B levels, which positively correlated with adult
coronary artery disease risk (15). In contrast, Spencer and associates
noted no differences in neonatal umbilical vein apolipoprotein B levels
or the ratio of apolipoprotein B/A-I in growth-retarded compared with
normally grown neonates (16). Such differences in neonatal results may
reflect ethnic heterogeneity (15), failure to correct for cigarette
smoking (17), and/or the stress of labor and delivery (18). These
factors underscore the added value of our present study, as we
collected fetal samples from an ethnically homogeneous, nonsmoking
population.
The mechanism for the occurrence of fetal growth retardation-associated
apolipoprotein B elevations and the persistence of this atherogenic
milieu into childhood and throughout life is currently unknown. Perhaps
the stress resulting from fetal growth retardation establishes a
life-long irreversible atherogenic lipoprotein profile driven by
chronic activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. In
support of this position, fetal growth retardation has been associated
with increased fetal cortisol levels (19). Secondly, glucocorticoid
therapy has been shown to result in increased neonatal cord blood
apolipoprotein B concentrations (20), and glucocorticoids have been
shown to enhance apolipoprotein B messenger ribonucleic acid synthesis
in cultured hepatocytes (21). Hormone-bound glucocorticoid receptor can
cause stable changes in chromatin architecture (22), which is a
time-dependent process that is fundamental in modulating gene activity
(23). Thus, if the fetus is exposed to prolonged periods of stress
in utero due to uteroplacental insufficiency and growth
retardation, chromatin remodeling represents a potential mechanism by
which elevated cortisol levels could permanently alter gene expression.
This mechanism could account for the dual observations that men with
low birth weights have increased fasting plasma cortisol levels as
adults (24) as well as an atherogenic lipoprotein profile (4).
Alternatively, a common molecular defect could independently lead
to both fetal growth retardation and an atherogenic lipoprotein
profile. The LDL receptor mediates the uptake of apolipoprotein B into
cells, whereas mutations in the LDL receptor and related proteins (LRP)
lead to premature atherosclerosis (25). Trophoblasts express high
levels of LDL receptor and related proteins (26). However, LRP also
serves as a ligand for the complex of urokinase-type plasminogen
activator (uPA), its inhibitor, and the uPA cell surface receptor (27).
In this capacity, LRP facilitates recycling of the uPA receptor to
restore active uPA on the cell surface. The internalization of
receptor-bound inactivated uPA is a crucial characteristic of invasive
cells, including trophoblasts (28, 29, 30, 31). Thus, a defect in the LDL
receptor family of proteins could lead to both impaired trophoblast
invasion, the characteristic placental lesion associated with fetal
growth retardation, as well as elevated fetal, neonatal, childhood, and
adult apolipoprotein concentrations. Indeed, trophoblast cells derived
from preeclamptic patients, a disorder also associated with shallow
trophoblast invasion and fetal growth retardation, display reduced cell
surface uPA activity (32).
In summary, we have shown that growth-retarded fetuses display an
atherogenic milieu that appears to persist into adulthood and
contributes to the strong association between fetal growth retardation
and adult atherosclerosis. Further research is needed to determine the
exact mechanism(s) for this association.
Received January 6, 1999.
Revised September 22, 1999.
Accepted October 3, 1999.
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