Maternal sterol 27-hydroxylase is crucial for securing fetal development

Abstract

SummaryThe maternal body helps in providing nutrients and degrading toxic metabolites instead of the fetal body; disruptions in these mechanisms affect normal fetal development. Sterol 27-hydroxylase (Cyp27a1) is involved in the alternative pathway of bile acid synthesis, which is enhanced during pregnancy. However, its role in fetal development remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that maternal Cyp27a1 activity is essential for progression of normal pregnancy and fetal organ formation. Depletion of maternalCyp27a1reduced the pregnancy rate and litter size. Newborn mice died of respiratory distress syndrome resulting from the absence of mature alveolar epithelial cells. These phenotypes were caused by 7α-hydroxycholesterol (7α-HC) accumulating inCyp27a1-deficient mice. Mechanistically, 7α-HC destabilized the Fau protein, mediating ribosome assembly, the downregulation of which caused poor polysome formation, lower protein synthesis, and impaired lung maturation. Overall, this study revealed an essential mechanism of securing fetal development by degrading a toxic metabolite in the maternal body.

Visfatin impact on the proteome of porcine luteal cells during implantation

“…CYP27A1-derived metabolites, such as oxysterols have been implicated in regulating immune responses and inflammation. During pregnancy, depletion of CYP27A1 was linked with higher concentrations of oxysterols and impaired differentiation and invasion of trophoblasts as well as lower litter size and higher mortality 55 . In our study, we indicated decreased expression of this protein in LCs treated by VIS, suggesting that the adipokine may play a role in regulating CYP27A1.…”