Syncytialization and prolonged exposure to palmitate impacts BeWo respiration.

Placental villous trophoblast mitochondrial respiratory function is critical for a successful pregnancy and environmental influences such as maternal obesity have been associated with respiratory impairment at term. More recently, a gestational high fat diet independent of maternal body composition, has been highlighted as a potential independent regulator of placental mitochondrial metabolism. The current study aimed to characterize the direct impact of a prolonged and isolated exposure to the dietary fatty acids Palmitate (PA) and Oleate (OA) upon placental cell mitochondrial respiratory function.

Proteinase-Activated Receptor 4 Activation Triggers Cell Membrane Blebbing through RhoA and -Arrestin.

Proteinase-activated receptors (PARs) are a four-member family of G-protein-coupled receptors that are activated via proteolysis. PAR4 is a member of this family that is cleaved and activated by serine proteinases such as thrombin, trypsin, and cathepsin-G. PAR4 is expressed in a variety of tissues and cell types, including platelets, vascular smooth muscle cells, and neuronal cells.