The relationship among vitamin D, TLR4 pathway and preeclampsia

Author(s)

de Souza, Esther Alves ^[1] ; Pisani, Luciana Pellegrini ^[2]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Programa Posgrad Alimentos Nutr & Saude, UNIFESP, BR-11015021 Santos, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Biociencias, UNIFESP, Lab Nutr & Fisiol Endocrina, Silva Jardim 136, 311, 3 Andar, BR-11015021 Santos, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Review article
• Source: MOLECULAR BIOLOGY REPORTS; v. 47, n. 8 JUL 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-specific syndrome that has been the greatest cause of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. The impaired outcomes are related to maternal and the offspring healthy in the short and long-term. Although preeclampsia origins remain unclear, it is well known that there is impaired trophoblast invasion with culminant abnormal immune response. The early and late-onset preeclampsia have been studied, the subtypes have the same difference in the placentation and inflammatory features. Dietary compounds can stimulate or inhibit the activation of immune cells. Low vitamin D intake has been linked to impaired fetal development, intrauterine growth restriction, and preeclampsia. Vitamin D has been described as an anti-inflammatory effect. It can downregulate pro-inflammatory cytokines expression by the inhibition of the Nuclear Factor-\& x138;B pathway signaling cascade. High vitamin D levels could attenuate the immune response. On the other hand, vitamin D deficiency may contribute to increasing pro-inflammatory state. In preeclampsia, there is a reduced expression of vitamin D receptor and its metabolism is disrupted. In this review, we aimed to discuss the role of vitamin D as an anti-inflammatory agent in relation to the pro-inflammatory process of preeclampsia through the activation of the TLR4 pathway. Although there are limited studies showing the relation between vitamin D and lower risk of preeclampsia, the maternal status of vitamin D seems to influence the risk of PE development. Therefore, vitamin D supplementation in women may be a strategy to improve pregnancy outcomes. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/12244-2 - The relationship of calcium and Vitamin D intake with the placental inflammatory parameters and clinical state in newborn of women with preeclampsia
• Grantee: Esther Alves de Souza
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master