Aflatoxin B1 transfer and metabolism in human placenta.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), a common dietary contaminant, is a major risk factor of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Early onset of HCC in some countries in Africa and South-East Asia indicates the importance of early life exposure. Placenta is the primary route for various compounds, both nutrients and toxins, from the mother to the fetal circulation. Furthermore, placenta contains enzymes for xenobiotic metabolism. AFB1, AFB1-metabolites, and AFB1-albumin adducts have been detected in cord blood of babies after maternal exposure during pregnancy. However, the role that the placenta plays in the transfer and metabolism of AFB1 is not clear. In this study, placental transfer and metabolism of AFB1 were investigated in human placental perfusions and in in vitro studies. Eight human placentas were perfused with 0.5 or 5microM AFB1 for 2-4 h. In vitro incubations with placental microsomal and cytosolic proteins from eight additional placentas were also conducted. Our results from placental perfusions provide the first direct evidence of the actual transfer of AFB1 and its metabolism to aflatoxicol (AFL) by human placenta. In vitro incubations with placental cytosolic fraction confirmed the capacity of human placenta to form AFL. AFL was the only metabolite detected in both perfusions and in vitro incubations. Since AFL is less mutagenic, but putatively as carcinogenic as AFB1, the formation of AFL may not protect the fetus from the toxicity of AFB1.

Kinetics of gold nanoparticles in the human placenta.

We studied the transfer of PEGylated gold nanoparticles through perfused human placenta. In 'once-through' perfusions using 15 and 30nm nanoparticles both maternal and fetal outflows were collected. Recirculating perfusions using 10 or 15nm nanoparticles lasted 6h. The gold concentration in samples was analysed on ICP-MS. The reference compound antipyrine crossed the placenta rapidly, as expected. In open perfusions nanoparticles were detected in maternal but not in fetal outflow, suggesting the lack of placental transfer. During 6h re-circulating perfusions, no particles were detected in fetal circulation. Using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and silver enhancement, nanoparticles could be visualized in the placental tissue mainly in the trophoblastic cell layer. In in vitro experiments, nanoparticles were taken up by BeWo choriocarcinoma cells and retained inside the cells for an extended period of 48h. In conclusion, PEGylated gold nanoparticles of the size 10-30nm did not cross the perfused human placenta in detectable amounts into the fetal circulation within 6h. Whether PEGylated gold nanoparticles eventually are able to cross placenta and whether nanoparticles affect placental functions needs to be further studied.

Transplacental passage of lamotrigine in a human placental perfusion system in vitro and in maternal and cord blood in vivo.

OBJECTIVE: We studied transplacental passage of lamotrigine (3,5-diamino-6-[2,3-dichlorophenyl]-1,2,4-triazine; LTG) using an ex vivo human placental perfusion method and in in vivo samples. METHODS: Term placentas from healthy mothers without medications were perfused in a recirculating dual perfusion system. LTG (2.5 microg/ml, n=4; 10 microg/ml, n=4) and reference compound antipyrine (100 microg/ml) were added into the maternal circulation. The disappearance of drugs from the maternal circulation and appearance into the foetal circulation was followed every 15 min up to 2 h. Drug concentrations were analysed using high-performance liquid chromatography. In addition to human placental perfusions, we analysed LTG concentrations in maternal vein and cord blood samples after delivery from two epileptic mothers receiving LTG therapy during pregnancy. RESULTS: LTG was detectable in the foetal circulation at 15 min in all of the perfusions, indicating rapid transfer. Maternal and foetal concentrations reached equilibrium at 60 min with both concentrations used. The feto-maternal ratio was 1.26+/-0.20 with 10 microg/ml LTG and 0.83+/-0.41 with 2.5 microg/ml LTG at the end of the perfusion. The transfer of LTG from the maternal to the foetal compartment at 120 min was 28.9+/-10.7% with 2.5 microg/ml LTG and 37.8+/-3.2% with 10 microg/ml LTG (p>0.05). In the serum samples from epileptic mothers, the cord blood maternal concentration ratio was 1.02 in one pair and 1.55 in the other. CONCLUSIONS: LTG crossed the placenta easily and rapidly, indicating that the maternal treatment leads to a considerable foetal exposure.