Down-regulation of the placental BCRP/ABCG2 transporter in response to hypoxia signaling.

The BCRP/ABCG2 efflux transporter protects the developing fetus by limiting the transplacental transfer of drugs and chemicals and prevents the apoptosis of trophoblasts. The purpose of this study was to determine whether hypoxia-related signaling alters placental BCRP expression and function in vitro and in human pregnancies. Human BeWo choriocarcinoma cells were treated with the hypoxia mimetic, cobalt chloride (CoCl CoCl This study provides novel insight into the regulation of the placental BCRP transporter by hypoxia, which may be important for exposure of the fetus to chemicals during early development and in hypoxia-related pregnancy disorders.