Bile acid transport correlative protein mRNA expression profile in human placenta with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the expression of bile acid transport correlative proteins in the placenta of patients with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP).

METHODS: This case-control study was performed in the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China from March 2007 to October 2008. Real time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction was applied for the mRNA expression measurement of 8 bile acid transport correlative proteins, organic anion transporting polypeptide (OATP)1A2, OATP1B1, multidrug resistance protein (MRP)1, MRP2, anion exchanger (AE)2, bile salt export pump (BSEP), multidrug resistance 3, and familial intrahepatic cholestasis (FIC)1, in normal human placentas (n=20) and those with ICP (n=20).

RESULTS: All the transcripts except OATP1B1 and BSEP were detected. Both OATP1A2 and AE2 mRNA were higher while FIC1 was lower in ICP patients.

CONCLUSION: The alteration of bile acid transport correlative proteins OATP1A2, AE2, and FIC1 may be involved in the fetal cholestasis of ICP.