Switching a placental protein (LAT1) on or off to help baby growth
Development of approaches for inducible trophoblast-specific gene modulation: the role of trophoblast Lat1 in the regulation of placental function and fetal growth
Researchers are creating tools to switch a placenta protein called LAT1 on or off in mice to find out whether fixing its levels can prevent babies from growing too small or too large.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11262295 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This work builds tools to turn genes on or off specifically in placental trophoblast cells using mouse models. The team will develop and validate inducible, placenta-targeted methods to control LAT1, a transporter that moves essential amino acids and thyroid hormones to the fetus. They will test whether restoring normal LAT1 in the placenta can rescue embryos that die when LAT1 is deleted and how LAT1 levels affect fetal growth and later metabolic health. Outcomes will include measures of placental function, fetal size, and offspring cardiometabolic markers.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This work is most relevant to pregnant people and parents concerned about fetal growth problems such as intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) or fetal overgrowth.
Not a fit: People without pregnancy-related concerns, or those whose baby's growth issues are caused by non-placental factors, are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to new ways to target the placenta to prevent or treat fetal growth problems and reduce long-term health risks for children.
How similar studies have performed: Prior human and animal studies link placental System L and LAT1 activity to growth disorders, but using inducible, placenta-specific genetic switching is a novel approach that has not been widely tested.
Where this research is happening
Aurora, UNITED STATES
- University of Colorado Denver — Aurora, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jansson, Thomas — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Jansson, Thomas
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.