Adipose Tissue Regulation of Vitamin B12 Uptake and the CD320 Receptor–TCN2 Transport Axis in Pregnancy
Authors' conclusion
Adipose tissue exhibits adaptive regulation of B12 uptake through increased intracellular accumulation and upregulation of CD320 and TCN2, highlighting a potential role for adipose B12 homeostasis during pregnancy.
Study context
- Population
- Pregnant women; paired subcutaneous (ScWAT) and omental adipose tissue (OmWAT), primary human adipocytes from women across lean, overweight, obesity and severe-obesity BMI categories, and Chub-S7 adipocytes
- Participants
- 115 pregnant women
- Outcome
- Intracellular B12 accumulation in adipocytes
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Low B12 exposure (25-100 pM) increased intracellular B12 accumulation in adipocytes
150-300%
Further findings
CD320 and TCN2 expression under B12 deficiency
- CD320 and TCN2 expression was upregulated under B12 deficiency across all models
CD320 expression and circulating B12
- CD320 expression in both depots was inversely associated with circulating B12 levels
ScWAT CD320 and TCN2 expression and lipids and glucose
- In ScWAT, CD320 correlated negatively with HDL cholesterol and positively with glucose
- TCN2 correlated positively with LDL and total cholesterol
Characteristics of women with B12 deficiency
- Women with B12 deficiency exhibited higher BMI and triglycerides and lower HDL cholesterol and folate levels
Original publication
Adipose Tissue Regulation of Vitamin B12 Uptake and the CD320 Receptor–TCN2 Transport Axis in Pregnancy. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. Published 11 November 2026. doi:10.
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