Effect of sublethal prenatal endotoxaemia on murine placental transport systems and lipid homeostasis

Abstract Infection alters the expression of transporters that mediate the placental exchange of xenobiotics, lipids and cytokines. We hypothesized that lipopolysaccharide (LPS) modifies the expression of placental transport systems and lipid homeostasis. LPS (150 μg/kg; i.p.) treatments were administered for 4 h or 24 h, animals were euthanized at gestational days (GD) 15.5 or 18.5, and maternal blood, foetuses and placentae were collected. Increased rates of foetal demise were observed at GD15.5 following LPS treatment, whereas at GD18.5, high rates of early labour occurred and were associated with distinct proinflammatory responses. LPS did not alter ABC transporter mRNA expression but decreased Fabppm at GD15.5 (LPS-4 h) and increased Fat/Cd36 lipid transporter mRNA at GD18.5 (LPS-4 h). At the protein level, breast cancer-related protein (BCRP) and Abcg1 levels were decreased in the placental labyrinth zone (Lz) at GD15.5, whereas P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and Bcrp Lz-immunostaining was decreased at GD18.5. In the placental junctional zone (Jz), P-gp, Bcrp and Abcg1 levels were higher at GD18.5. Specific maternal plasma and placental changes in triacylglycerol, free fatty acid, cholesterol, cholesterol ester and monoacylglycerol levels were detected in a gestational age-dependent manner. In conclusion, LPS-induced foetal death and early labour were associated with altered placental ABC and lipid transporter expression and deranged maternal plasma and placental lipid homeostasis. These changes likely modify foetal xenobiotic exposure and placental lipid exchange in cases of bacterial infection.