Iron transport across the human placenta is regulated by hepcidin

BACKGROUND: Transport of iron across the placenta is critical for appropriate development of the fetus. Iron deficiency during pregnancy remains a major public health concern, particularly in low and middle-income countries, often exacerbated by infectious diseases leading to altered iron trafficking via inflammatory responses. Herein, we investigate the role of hepcidin, a master regulator of iron homeostasis, on regulation of iron transport across trophoblast cells. METHODS: We utilized the Jeg-3 choriocarcinoma cell line, for analysis of expression of transferrin receptor, ferritin and ferroportin as well as the export of (59)Fe in the presence of hepcidin. Placental tissue from human term pregnancies was utilized for immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Hepcidin treatment of Jeg-3 cells decreased expression of ferroportin and transferrin receptor (TfR) and reduced the cellular export of iron. Lower expression of TfR on the syncytiotrophoblast was associated with the highest levels of hepcidin in maternal circulation, and ferroportin expression was positively associated with placental TfR. Placentas from small-for-gestational-age newborns had significantly lower levels of ferroportin and ferritin gene expression at delivery. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest hepcidin plays an important role in the regulation of iron transport across the placenta, making it a critical link in movement of iron into fetal circulation.