Blanchon L, Marceau G, Borel V, Prat C, Herbet A, Bouvier D, Gallot D, Sapin V
GReD, UMR CNRS 6247, Inserm U 931, faculté de médecine, Clermont-Université, 28, place Henri-Dunant, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France.
Gynecol Obstet Fertil. 2011 Jun;39(6):370-2. doi: 10.1016/j.gyobfe.2011.04.009. Epub 2011 May 18.
Retinoids (active derivatives of vitamin A) were already demonstrated to be important morphogenes and their implication at the placental and fetal level was already established. A new field of research is now developed in order to show their role on fetal membranes constituted by amnion and chorion. To describe the role of retinoids on these membranes, our studies were focused on target gene research. Firstly, all metabolism enzymes needed to vitamin A pathways were demonstrated to be present and active in signal transduction. Secondly, a bioinformatic analysis was performed to assess a list of potential target genes that could be classified in different biological pathways (inflammation, retinoids, hormones, vascularization, extracellular matrix and water homeostasis). Then, it was demonstrated that the gene coding for PLAT, implied in the degradation of extracellular matrix during programmed or premature rupture of membranes, is regulated by retinoids in a two steps mechanism. Finally, preliminary data showed that some aquaporins, which control water transport across membranes, are expressed and regulated by retinoids in the fetal membranes. A disregulation in pathologies like oligo or poly-hydramnios can be anticipated. Improvement of our knowledge about the retinoid implications is a key point in order to obtain a precise and complete documented cartography of the vitamin A (regulating) in amniotic membranes (regulated) that will permit the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
维甲酸（维生素A的活性衍生物）已被证明是重要的形态发生素，并且它们在胎盘和胎儿层面的作用也已得到证实。现在正在开展一个新的研究领域，以揭示它们在由羊膜和绒毛膜构成的胎膜上的作用。为了描述维甲酸在这些胎膜上的作用，我们的研究集中在靶基因研究上。首先，已证明维生素A途径所需的所有代谢酶在信号转导中均存在且具有活性。其次，进行了生物信息学分析，以评估一系列可能归类于不同生物学途径（炎症、维甲酸、激素、血管生成、细胞外基质和水平衡）的潜在靶基因。然后，已证明编码PLAT的基因，在胎膜程序性或过早破裂期间参与细胞外基质的降解，由维甲酸通过两步机制调节。最后，初步数据表明，一些控制跨膜水转运的水通道蛋白在胎膜中由维甲酸表达和调节。可以预期在羊水过少或羊水过多等病理情况下会出现失调。提高我们对维甲酸作用的认识是获得羊膜中维生素A（调节）精确且完整记录图谱的关键，这将有助于开发新的诊断和治疗策略。
