Sex-specific associations between cortisol and birth weight in pregnancies complicated by asthma are not due to differential glucocorticoid receptor expression

Thorax
Nicolette A HodylVicki L Clifton

Abstract

Fetal growth inhibition is a known sequelae of in utero glucocorticoid exposure and has long-term consequences for adult health. Sex-specific fetal growth patterns are observed in pregnancies with maternal asthma and may be due to differential sensitivity of the placenta to glucocorticoids. It is currently unknown whether expression of the placental glucocorticoid receptor (GR) becomes altered with asthma or the use of inhaled corticosteroids. Pregnant women with mild asthma (n=52), moderate-severe asthma (n=71) and without asthma (n=51) were recruited at John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle, Australia. At delivery, placentae and cord blood were collected, and fetal sex and birth weight were recorded. Placental GR heterogeneous nuclear RNA (hnRNA), mRNA and protein were measured and cord blood cortisol concentrations were assessed. Placental GR gene activity increased with cortisol exposure but decreased with inhaled corticosteroid treatment (p=0.05). With maternal asthma, female birth weight centiles were inversely associated with cortisol (r=-0.286, p=0.017) and, despite a decrease in placental GR mRNA (p=0.003), placental GRalpha protein levels were unchanged. In males, no change to cortisol, birth weight or placental GR were evi...Continue Reading

Citations

Oct 12, 2010·American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine·Nicolette A HodylVicki L Clifton
Sep 10, 2011·Journal of Perinatology : Official Journal of the California Perinatal Association·K SathishkumarC Yallampalli
Mar 25, 2014·Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology : Official Publication of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology·Benoit CossetteLucie Blais
Oct 2, 2013·Epigenetics : Official Journal of the DNA Methylation Society·Sam BuckberryClaire T Roberts
Apr 2, 2015·Psychoneuroendocrinology·Gerald F GiesbrechtUNKNOWN APrON Study Team
Sep 6, 2018·American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine·Peter D Sly
Aug 23, 2020·Expert Review of Respiratory Medicine·Ashley S MeakinVicki L Clifton
Sep 4, 2020·Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics·Hanna HuebnerFabian B Fahlbusch

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