Circulating Levels of C1q/TNF-Related Protein 3 (CTRP3) and CTRP9 in Gestational Diabetes and Their Association with Insulin Resistance and Inflammatory Cytokines

A positive correlation of serum SFRP1 levels with the risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus: a case-control study

OBJECTIVE

Secreted frizzled-related protein 1 (SFRP1) is an adipokine whose production is significantly altered in metabolic disorders. Considering the relationship between dysfunction of Wnt/β-catenin signaling and metabolic disorders as well as the inhibitory effects of SFRP1 on this signaling pathway, the present work aimed to investigate the correlation between serum SFRP1 levels and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and its developing risk factors for the first time.

METHODS

This case-control study measured serum levels of SFRP1, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, adiponectin, and fasting insulin using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits in 80 T2DM patients and 80 healthy individuals. Biochemical parameters were determined using the AutoAnalyzer instrument.

RESULTS

The T2DM group had higher levels of SFRP1 compared with the controls (146.8100 ± 43.61416 vs 81.9531 ± 32.78545 pg/mL; P < .001). There was a positive correlation between SFRP1 and insulin (r = 0.327, P = .003), TNF-α (r = 0.420, P < .001) as well as homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (r = 0.328, P = .003) in the T2DM group. In addition, 10-unit changes in SFRP1 levels showed the risk of T2DM in both the unadjusted (odds ratio [OR] [95% CI] = 1.564 [1.359-1.800]) and adjusted models accounting for age, gender, and body mass index (OR [95% CI] = 1.564 [1.361-1.799]; P < .001). A cut-off value of SFRP1 (105.83 pg/mL) was identified to distinguish between the T2DM patients and the healthy subjects, with sensitivity of 75.0% and specificity of 80.0%.

CONCLUSION

According to our research, there was a significant and positive link between the amount of SFRP1 and the likelihood of developing T2DM as well as the related factors like insulin resistance index and TNF-α. These results indicated that SFRP1 might have a potential role in the development of T2DM.

CTRP9: An Anti-Atherosclerotic Factor in ApoE Knockout Mice through Oxidative Stress Inhibition

BACKGROUND

C1q/tumor necrosis factor-related protein-9 (CTRP9) is critically involved in the pathophysiology of metabolic and cardiovascular disorders. This investigation aimed to clarify the mechanism underlying the role of CTRP9 in atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E (ApoE) knockout (KO) mice.

METHODS

ApoE KO mice were fed a Western diet and injected with a virus which resulted in CTRP9 overexpression or knockdown for 12 weeks. The plasma lipid levels and atherosclerotic plaque areas were measured after the mice were euthanized. Aortas were isolated, and RNA sequencing was performed to identify the differentially expressed genes and related signaling pathways. Finally, plasma oxidative stress factors were measured to demonstrate the reliability of the RNA sequencing results.

RESULTS

The plasma lipid levels in the CTRP9 overexpression group did not significantly differ from those in the green fluorescence protein (GFP) group. Markablely, CTRP9 overexpression inhibited atherosclerotic plaque formation in ApoE KO mice, whereas CTRP9 knockdown promoted plaque formation. RNA sequencing analysis identified 3485 differentially expressed genes that were prominently enriched across 55 signaling pathways. Additionally, plasma oxidative stress factors were significantly reduced after CTRP9 overexpression, whereas these factors were increased after CTRP9 knockdown, which was consistent with the results of the RNA sequencing analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings demonstrated that CTRP9 alleviated inflammation and cholesterol metabolism, which reduced oxidative stress in an atherosclerotic animal model. These beneficial effects may mediate the suppression of lesion development in the aorta.

Association between sleep duration during pregnancy and gestational diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective

To systematically review studies on the correlation between sleep duration during pregnancy and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and use meta-analysis to explore the correlation between the two to provide a basis for preventing GDM during pregnancy.

Methods

The search databases were China Knowledge Network (CNKI), Weipu, Wanfang, China Biomedical Literature Service System (SinoMed), Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Embase, and PubMed, and the search time was from the establishment of the above databases to July 2023. The data were statistically analyzed using STATA/MP17 and RevMan 5.3 software. Publication bias could be accurately assessed using funnel plots and Egger's test.

Results

A total of 5,197 papers were searched, and 13 studies were finally included, which included 80,259 individuals, including 3,461 patients with GDM. The comprehensive analysis showed that. Based on pooled data from prospective, cross-sectional, and case-control studies, extreme sleep duration during pregnancy was strongly associated with GDM compared with average sleep duration. The results of the prospective studies showed that both short (OR = 1.50, 95% CI: 1.07-2.10, I2 = 60.9%, p = 0.02) and long (OR = 1.28, 95% CI: 1.13-1.46, I2 = 0.0%, p < 0.0001) sleep duration increased the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus, but the harms were more pronounced with short sleep. In analyzing the association between extreme sleep duration and GDM, publication bias was found in prospective, cross-sectional, and case-control studies with moderate heterogeneity and prospective-only studies with low heterogeneity.

Conclusion

Both too short and too long sleep duration during pregnancy are strongly associated with GDM. Either too short or too long sleep duration predicts the risk of developing GDM, but the harms are more pronounced with short sleep. These findings remind us of the importance of controlling sleep duration during pregnancy and help to optimize early strategies to prevent GDM.Systematic review registration: http://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero, identifier [CRD42023470925].

Recent progress in metabolic reprogramming in gestational diabetes mellitus: a review

Gestational diabetes mellitus is a prevalent metabolic disease that can impact the normal course of pregnancy and delivery, leading to adverse outcomes for both mother and child. Its pathogenesis is complex and involves various factors, such as insulin resistance and β-cell dysfunction. Metabolic reprogramming, which involves mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and glycolysis, is crucial for maintaining human metabolic balance and is involved in the pathogenesis and progression of gestational diabetes mellitus. However, research on the link and metabolic pathways between metabolic reprogramming and gestational diabetes mellitus is limited. Therefore, we reviewed the relationship between metabolic reprogramming and gestational diabetes mellitus to provide new therapeutic strategies for maternal health during pregnancy and reduce the risk of developing gestational diabetes mellitus.

A positive association of serum CCN5/WISP2 levels with the risk of developing gestational diabetes mellitus: a case-control study

INTRODUCTION

CCN5/WISP2 is prominently manifest in adipose tissue and has been linked to the pathogenesis of obesity, diabetes, and insulin resistance. However, discrepancies exist in previous studies, and little is known about its association with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). The current investigation is designed to examine the correlation of WISP2 with risk factors in GDM patients in comparison to healthy pregnant women for the first time.

METHODS

This case-control study measured serum levels of CCN5, TNF-α, IL-6, adiponectin, and fasting insulin using ELISA kits in 88 GDM patients and 88 pregnant women.

RESULTS

The GDM group had remarkably higher serum levels of CCN5 (379.41 ± 83.078 ng/ml) compared to controls (212.02 ± 77.935 ng/ml). In a similar vein, it was observed that patients diagnosed with GDM exhibited elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 and TNF-α; while conversely, adiponectin levels were found to be significantly lower than those observed in the control group (P < 0.0001). In women with GDM, a positive and significant correlation was observed between CCN5 and BMI, FBG, insulin, HOMA-IR, as well as IL-6 and TNF-α levels. In the adjusted model, the risk of GDM was significantly increased with elevated serum CCN5 level.

CONCLUSION

Our research indicates a noteworthy and affirmative correlation between the levels of CCN5 in the serum and the risk of developing GDM, along with its associated risk factors such as BMI, insulin resistance index, FBG, and inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6). These findings suggest that CCN5 could potentially play a role in the etiology of GDM.