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Hum. Reprod. Advance Access published online on August 25, 2005
Human Reproduction, doi:10.1093/humrep/dei246
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© The Author 2005. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. All rights reserved.
Received May 13, 2005
Revised June 23, 2005
Accepted July 6, 2005

Article

Expression of divalent metal transporter 1 (DMT1) isoforms in first trimester human placenta and embryonic tissues

W.S. Chong 1, P.C. Kwan 1, L.Y. Chan 1, P.Y. Chiu 1, T.K. Cheung 2, and T.K. Lau 1*

1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, People’s Republic of China
2 Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Queensland, Australia

* To whom correspondence should be addressed.
T.K. Lau, E-mail: tzekinlau{at}cuhk.edu.hk


  Abstract

BACKGROUND: Divalent metal transporter 1 (DMT1) is a transmembrane glycoprotein which mediates the proton-coupled transport of a variety of divalent metal ions. Two isoforms, which differ by the presence (DMT1-IRE) or absence (DMT1-nonIRE) of an iron-responsive element (IRE) in their 3’ untranslated region, are implicated in apical iron transport and endosomal iron transport respectively. Although the expression pattern of DMT1 isoforms is tissue specific in adult, data regarding its expression in embryonic tissues are lacking. METHODS: Semiquantitative RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry were used to study the mRNA and protein expression of both DMT1 isoforms in embryonic tissues between 8 and 14 weeks gestational age. RESULTS: DMT1-IRE and DMT1-nonIRE expressions were ubiquitous in embryonic tissues examined. In the lung, statistically significant correlations were found between the levels of DMT1 isoform expression and gestational age. In the placenta, DMT1-IRE was the predominantly expressed isoform. Both isoform proteins were localized in embryonic epithelial cellular membrane. CONCLUSION: Both DMT1 isoforms are ubiquitously expressed in embryonic tissues in the first trimester. Predominant DMT1-IRE isoform expression in placenta suggests an iron-regulatory mechanism reminiscent of that in the adult duodenum. Epithelial distributions of both DMT1 isoforms are associated with the absorptive or excretory functions of the expressed tissues.

Keywords: divalent metal transporter 1/early pregnancy/fetal tissues/human placenta/metal transport.
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