Sara Eyal
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
Title: Effects of Anti-epileptic drugs on carriers for drugs, hormones and nutrients: Implications for foetal exposure
Biography
Biography: Sara Eyal
Abstract
Our aim is to explore a novel mechanism of potential teratogenicity of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), altered expression of placental and systemic carriers for hormones, nutrients and medications. We have recently demonstrated that AEDs affect the expression of folate placental uptake carriers (reduced folate carrier-RFC, folate receptor α-FRα) and efflux transporters (breast cancer resistance protein-BCRP and multidrug resistance protein 2) and thyroid hormones uptake transporters (L-type amino acid transporter-LAT1 and organic anion transporting polypeptides-OATPs) in a human placental cell line. Our findings from studies in mice provide further evidence for additional effects of AEDs on fetal exposure to xenobiotics through modification of their systemic pharmacokinetics. Identification of AED effects on the placental barrier and fetal exposure to xenobiotics and endogenous compounds could be a first step towards a more rational pharmacotherapy and supplemental therapy in pregnant women with epilepsy.
