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School of Medicine

Dr Michelle Desforges PhD

Postdoctoral Research Associate

Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre
Developmental Bioscience
School of Medicine
The University of Manchester
St Mary's Hospital
5th Floor - Research

Oxford Road

MANCHESTER
M13 9WL

 

Research

My past research within the Maternal and Fetal Health Research Group at St Mary's Hospital has mainly focussed on placental function with a particular emphasis on nutrient transfer. A wealth of data from human studies and animal models suggests the placental System A amino acid transporter is particularly important in the supply of amino acids necessary for normal fetal growth. Consequently, abnormal activity of this transporter may cause some cases of fetal growth restriction. Molecular characterisation of System A revealed there are three different isoforms (SNAT1, 2 and 4) but their relative importance to placental amino acid transport is unknown. SNAT4 was originally thought to be liver-specific but our data show that it is expressed by the placenta as well as other human tissues. In a mouse model of fetal intrauterine growth restriction, placental SNAT4 gene expression is related directly to fetal growth. The functional role of SNAT4, or indeed of SNAT1 and 2, in the human placenta has not been investigated and their regulation is poorly understood. Therefore the main aims of my research project are to test the hypothesis that SNAT4 is functionally important in transporting amino acids required for normal fetal growth across the human placenta, to determine the relative contribution of each SNAT isoform to system A–mediated transport in human placenta, and also to investigate their regulation.
 

Methodological Knowledge

Techniques used in the laboratory include:

  • isolation of primary human cells & tissue, mammalian cell culture
  • placental villous explant culture (human tissue)
  • placental microvillous membrane preparation, placental perfusion
  • amino acid transporter assays
  • differentiation and apoptosis assays
  • ELISAs
  • protein detection (Western blotting) and measurement
  • immunohistochemistry
  • confocal microscopy
  • general molecular biology
  • conventional and quantitative RT-PCR
  • RNA interference technologies
  • competent use of recombinant adenoviruses
 

Teaching

A member of the Board for the MRes in Maternal and Fetal Health, a course ran by our research group. Duties include running tutorials and skills workshops, teaching and supervision of students, examining student project reports and presentations, and interacting with our External Examiner.

Also involved in final year undergraduate student project design and supervision.

 

Qualifications

Microbiology with Immunology BSc from Leeds University.

PhD in Placental Physiology from Manchester University. Thesis title 'Gestational regulation of human placental amino acid transporters and the interaction of insulin-like growth factor II'.

 

Publications

2011

  • Desforges M, Westwood M. (2011). A limitation of the method for siRNA transfection into isolated primary trophoblast from human placenta. Placenta, 32, 192-194. eScholarID:128709
  • Giovannelli A, Greenwood SL, Desforges M, Sibley CP, Petraglia F. (2011). Corticotrophin-releasing factor inhibits system A activity in term human placental villous explants. Placenta, 32, 99-101. eScholarID:128708 | DOI:10.1016/j.placenta.2010.10.015

2010

  • Desforges M & Sibley CP. (2010). Placental nutrient supply and fetal growth. International Journal of Developmental Biology, 54(2/3), 377-390. eScholarID:81971
  • Desforges M, Greenwood SL, Glazier JD, Westwood M, Sibley CP. (2010). The contribution of SNAT1 to system A amino acid transporter activity in human placental trophoblast. Biochem Biophys Res Comm, 398, 130-134. eScholarID:128707 | DOI:10.1016/j.bbrc.2010.06.051

2009

  • Desforges M, Mynett KJ, Jones RLee, Greenwood SL, Westwood M, Sibley CP, Glazier JD. (2009). The SNAT4 isoform of the system A amino acid transporter is functional in human placental microvillous plasma membrane. J Physiol, 587( Pt 1), 61-72. eScholarID:1d19596 | DOI:10.1113/jphysiol.2008.161331
  • Forbes K, Desforges M, Garside R, Aplin JD, Westwood M. (2009). Methods for siRNA-mediated Reduction of mRNA and Protein Expression in Human Placental Explants, Isolated Primary Cells and Cell Lines. Placenta, 30(2), 124-129. eScholarID:1d18240 | DOI:10.1016/j.placenta.2008.10.003

2006

  • Desforges M, Lacey HA, Glazier JD, Greenwood SL, Mynett KJ, Speake PF, Sibley CP. (2006). The SNAT4 isoform of the system A amino acid transporter is expressed in human placenta. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol, 290(1), C305-C313. eScholarID:1d11275 | DOI:10.1152/ajpcell.00258.2005
  • Turner MMA, Roulstone CJ, Desforges M, Cretney MA, Champion EE, Lacey HA, Greenwood SL. (2006). The extent and variability of effects of culture conditions on the secretion of human chorionic gonadotrophin and interleukin-6 by human, term placental explants in culture. Placenta, 27, 98-102. eScholarID:1d15173

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