PREMATURE BIRTH BY CESAREAN SECTION INFLUENCES IRON METABOLISM IN PIGLETS

Xiuying WANG¹, Rafal STARZYNSKI¹, Pawel LIPINSKI¹, Rafal MAZGAJ¹, Magdalena OGLUSZKA², Jaroslaw WOLINSKI³, Dominika SZKOPEK³, Kamil ZAWORSKI ³, Zuzanna KOPEC¹, Beata ZELAZOWSKA¹

¹Institute of Genetics and Animal Biotechnology PAS, Department of Molecular Biology, Laboratory of Iron Molecular Biology, Jastrzebiec, Poland
²Institute of Genetics and Animal Biotechnology PAS, Department of Genomics and Biodiversity, Jastrzebiec, Poland
³Kielanowski Institute of Animal Physiology and Nutrition PAS, Department of Animal Physiology, Laboratory of Large Animal Model, Jablonna, Poland

In contrast to adults, our understanding of iron metabolism regulation in early postnatal periods, is poor. This study evaluated and compared iron status in term and preterm newborns using a porcine model. Cesarean section was manipulated on day 109 of gestation to obtain premature piglets. Piglets born naturally on day 115 were used as control animals. Blood, liver and spleen samples were collected during the first 4 hours after full-term and preterm birth. Our previous data showed lower red blood cell indices, plasma iron level and total body iron content in premature piglets compared to term animals, which indicated the occurrence of iron deficiency in prematurity. Here, we provide data showing hepatic iron accumulation, increased mRNA and protein expression of both ferritin chains, and upregulation of cytosolic iron chaperone poly(rC)-binding protein 1 (PCBP1) mRNA expression in the liver and spleen, of preterm piglets. Increased hepatic iron status of preterm piglets was associated with a statistically significant upregulation of hepcidin mRNA level. In parallel, in prematurely born piglets we observed orchestrated changes in the expression of hepcidin regulators such as increase in hepatic bone morphogenetic protein 6, and decrease in erythropoietic factors—erythroferrone and growth differentiation factor 15 in prematurely. It seems that prematurely born piglets obtained by cesarean section show pattern of iron metabolism characteristic for functional iron deficiency and iron accumulation in the tissue. It is possible that up-regulation of hepatic hepcidin is one of factors causing iron imbalance in preterm neonates. This study was supported by NCN/2020/39/B/NZ5/02469.