Maternal BMI, IGF-I Levels, and Birth Weight in African American and White Infants

Maternal diabetes and childhood cancer risks in offspring: two population-based studies

BACKGROUND

The effect of maternal diabetes on childhood cancer has not been widely studied.

METHODS

We examined this in two population-based studies in Denmark (N = 6420 cancer cases, 160,484 controls) and Taiwan (N = 2160 cancer cases, 2,076,877 non-cases) using logistic regression and Cox proportional hazard regression adjusted for birth year, child's sex, maternal age and birth order.

RESULTS

Gestational diabetes in Denmark [odds ratio (OR) = 0.98, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.71-1.35] or type II and gestational diabetes in Taiwan (type II: hazard ratio (HR) = 0.81, 95% CI: 0.63-1.05; gestational diabetes: HR = 1.06, 95% CI: 0.92-1.22) were not associated with cancer (all types combined). In Denmark, maternal type I diabetes was associated with the risk of glioma (OR = 2.33, 95% CI: 1.04-5.22), while in Taiwan, the risks of glioma (HR = 1.59, 95% CI: 1.01-2.50) were elevated among children whose mothers had gestational diabetes. There was a twofold increased risk for hepatoblastoma with maternal type II diabetes (HR = 2.02, 95% CI: 1.02-4.00).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that maternal diabetes is an important risk factor for certain types of childhood cancers, emphasising the need for effective interventions targeting maternal diabetes to prevent serious health effects in offspring.

Fetal growth regulation via insulin-like growth factor axis in normal and diabetic pregnancy

OBJECTIVES

Diabetes mellitus (DM) in pregnancy and gestational diabetes remain a considerable cause of pregnancy complications, and fetal macrosomia is among them. Insulin, insulin-like growth factors (IGFs), and components of their signal-transduction axes belong to the predominant growth regulators and are implicated in glucose homeostasis. This study aimed to evaluate the available evidence on the association between the IGF axis and fetal anthropometric parameters in human diabetic pregnancy.

METHODS

PubMed, Medline, Web of Science, and CNKI databases (1981-2021) were searched.

RESULTS

Maternal and cord serum IGF-I levels are suggested to be positively associated with weight and length of neonates born to mothers with type 1 DM. The results concerning IGF-II and IGFBPs in type 1 DM or any of the IGF axis components in type 2 DM remain controversial. The alterations of maternal serum IGFs concentrations throughout diabetic and non-diabetic pregnancy do not appear to be the same. Maternal 1st trimester IGF-I level is positively associated with fetal birth weight in DM.

CONCLUSIONS

Research on the IGF axis should take gestational age of sampling, presence of DM, and insulin administration into account. Maternal 1st trimester IGF-I level might become a predictor for macrosomia development in diabetic pregnancy.

Fetal macrosomia, fetal insulin, and insulin-like growth factor- 1 among neonates in Lagos, Nigeria: A case-control study

Purpose

Fetal macrosomia is associated with perinatal injuries. The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between fetal insulin, insulin-like Growth factor-1(IGF-1), and macrosomia in a resource-limited setting.

Method

This was a case-control study at tertiary and secondary health facilities in Lagos, Nigeria. One hundred and fifty mother-neonate pairs were recruited, and their socio-demographic and obstetric history was recorded. Fetal cord venous blood was collected at birth, and neonatal anthropometry was measured within 24hrs of life. Insulin and IGF-1 assay were measured with Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Pearson’s Chi-square was used to assess the association between categorical variables and macrosomia. Spearman’s rank correlation of insulin, IGF-1, and fetal anthropometry was performed. Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate the association of insulin and IGF-1 with fetal birth weight. A statistically significant level was set at P-value < 0.05.

Results

Macrosomic neonates had mean fetal weight, fetal length, and occipitofrontal circumference (OFC) of 4.15±0.26kg, 50.85±2.09cm and 36.35± 1.22cm respectively. The median Insulin (P = 0.023) and IGF-1 (P < 0.0001) were significantly higher among macrosomic neonates as compared to normal weight babies. Maternal BMI at birth (p = 0.003), neonate’s gender (p < 0.001), fetal cord serum IGF-1 (p < 0.001) and insulin assay (P-value = 0.027) were significant predictors of fetal macrosomia. There was positive correlation between cord blood IGF-1 and birth weight (r = 0.47, P-value < 0.001), fetal length (r = 0.30, P-value = 0.0002) and OFC (r = 0.37, P-value < 0.001).

Conclusion

Among participating mother-neonate dyad, maternal BMI at birth, neonate’s gender, and fetal cord serum IGF-1 and serum insulin are significantly associated with fetal macrosomia.

Effect of excessive gestational weight on daughters' breast density at the end of puberty onset

The effect of excessive gestational weight gain (EGWG) is related to adverse health outcomes in the offspring; however, its effect on the daughters' breast density is unclear. We aimed to assess the association between EGWG and daughters' breast composition (% of fibroglandular volume (%FGV) and absolute fibroglandular volume (AFGV)) at Tanner stage 4 (Tanner B4)). We included 341 girls and their mothers from an ongoing cohort of low-income Chilean girls born from 2002-2003. Maternal gestational weight gain was self-reported in 2007, and breast density by digital mammography was measured in 2010. Weight, height and breast composition by dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) were measured in daughters at Tanner B4. Logistic regression models were run to assess the association between EGWG and the 80th percentile of %FGV and AFGV. Mean gestational weight gain was 13.7 kg (SD = 6.9 kg). Women with pregestational overweight or obesity exceeded the recommended gestational weight gain (58.8% vs. 31.8%, respectively). Daughters of women who had EGWG had higher levels of AFGV (OR: 2.02; 95%CI 1.16-3.53) at Tanner B4, which could be explained by metabolic and hormonal exposure in utero. However, we did not observe an association with %FGV.

The Relationship between Pesticide Exposure and Umbilical Serum IGF-1 Levels and Low-birth Weight: A Case-control Study in Brebes, Indonesia

BACKGROUND

Birth weight is very important for long-term physical, mental, health, and brain development. Pesticide exposure is thought to interfere with fetal growth, among others, through disruption of the function of the insulin-like growth hormone-1 (IGF-1) hormone.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the relationship between exposure to pesticides during pregnancy and low-birth weight (LBW) through the disruption of the IGF-1 hormone.

METHODS

In a case-control study, babies born with LBW (birth weight <2500 g) and those born later with normal birth weight (=2500 g) at 2 hospitals in Brebes were chosen as cases and controls, respectively. Maternal pesticide exposure was measured by interview using a questionnaire. Umbilical serum IGF-I level was tested using the ELISA method.

RESULTS

There was a significant relationship between pesticide exposure during pregnancy and LBW (OR 6.8; 95% CI 2.0 to 22.9) and low umbilical serum IGF-1 levels (OR 3.6; 95% CI 1.2 to 11.1). There was a significant relationship between low umbilical serum IGF-1 levels and LBW (OR 8.9; 95% CI 2.4 to 32.1).

CONCLUSION

There was a significant relationship between pesticide exposure during pregnancy and LBW through the umbilical serum IGF-1 reduction pathway.

The role of exercise in the reversal of IGF-1 deficiencies in microvascular rarefaction and hypertension

Hypertension has been linked with peripheral and central reductions in vascular density, and with devastating effects on brain function. However, the underlying mechanisms in the relationship between blood pressure and cognitive impairment have yet to be fully elucidated. Here, we review compelling evidence from two lines of inquiry: one that links microvascular rarefaction with insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) deficiencies, and another which posits that vascular dysfunction precedes hypertension. Based on the findings from experimental and clinical studies, we propose that these lines of evidence converge, and suggest that age-related declines in IGF-1 concentrations precede microvascular rarefaction, initiate an increase in vascular resistance, and therefore are causally linked to onset of hypertension. Physical exercise provides a relevant model for supporting our premise, given the well-established effects of exercise in attenuating vascular dysfunction, hypertension, IGF-1 deficiency, and cognitive decline. We highlight here the role of exercise-induced increases in blood flow in improving vascular integrity and enhancing angiogenesis via the actions of IGF-1, resulting in reversal of rarefaction and hypertension, and enhancement of cerebral blood flow and cognition.

Genetic Mapping of Head Size Related Traits in Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio)

Head size is important economic trait for many aquaculture fish which is directly linked to their carcass yield. The genetic basis of head size trait remains unclear in many widely cultured fish species. Common carp (Cyprinus carpio) is one of the most widely studied fish due to its importance on both economic and environmental aspects. In this study, we performed genome-wide association study using 433 Yellow River carp individuals from multiple families to identify loci and genes potentially associated with head size related traits including head length (HL), head length/body length ratio (HBR), eye diameter (ED), and eye cross (EC). QTL mapping was utilized to filter the effects of population stratification and improve power for the candidates identification in the largest surveyed family with a published genetic linkage map. Twelve SNPs showed significant for head size traits in GWAS and 18 QTLs were identified in QTL mapping. Our study combining both GWAS and QTL mapping could compensate the deficiency from each other and advance our understanding of head size traits in common carp. To acquire a better understanding of the correlation between head size and body growth, we also performed comparisons between QTLs of head size traits and growth-related traits. Candidate genes underlying head size traits were identified surrounding the significant SNPs, including parvalbumin, srpk2, fsrp5, igf1, igf3, grb10, igf1r, notch2, sfrp2. Many of these genes have been identified with potential functions on bone formation and growth. Igf1 was a putative gene associated with both head size and body growth in Yellow River carp. The teleost-specific igf3 was a candidate head size related gene, related to both HL and HBR. Our study also indicated the importance of Igf signaling pathway for both growth and head size determination in common carp, which could be potentially used in future selective breeding in common carp as well as other species.

Correlation of Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I and -II Concentrations at Birth Measured by Mass Spectrometry and Growth from Birth to Two Months

BACKGROUND

Immunoassays used to measure insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I and -II concentrations are susceptible to interference from IGF-binding proteins. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of IGF-I and -II concentrations at birth with neonatal anthropometry using a liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LCMS) assay.

METHODS

LCMS was used to measure IGF-I and -II concentrations in umbilical cord blood of term, healthy infants enrolled in the Cork BASELINE Birth Cohort Study. Weight, length, and occipitofrontal head circumference (OFC) were measured at birth and 2 months.

RESULTS

Cord blood IGF-I and -II concentrations were measured in 1,100 infants. Mean (SD) IGF-I and -II concentrations were 52.5 (23.9) ng/mL and 424.3 (98.2) ng/mL, respectively. IGF-I and -II concentrations at birth were associated (p < 0.05) with weight (R2 = 0.19, R2 = 0.01), length (R2 = 0.07, R2 = 0.004), and OFC (R2 = 0.03, R2 = 0.04) at birth. Low IGF-I concentrations at birth were associated with increases in weight (p < 0.001) and OFC (p < 0.01) Z-scores in the first 2 months.

CONCLUSION

Using an LCMS assay, we have shown that anthropometric parameters at birth are associated with IGF-I and weakly with IGF-II concentrations. This indicates that, at the time of birth, IGF-I is the more important growth factor for regulating infant growth.

Materno-foetal leptin and insulin-like growth factor in low birth weight neonates

Low birth weight (LBW) is a health concern in developing countries. Leptin and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) are factors that influence LBW. A case-control study was conducted at Medani hospital, Sudan. Cases were women who had LBW deliveries ( 2,500 g) and controls were women with normal-weight babies ( 2.500 – 4,000 g). Sociodemographic and obstetrical characteristics were gathered from both groups and leptin and IGF-I levels were measured by ELISA. Cases and controls (45 in each arm) were matched in their basic data. The median (interquartile) of maternal leptin levels [9.9 (1.9 – 21.8) vs. 16.0 (9.6 – 20.8), ng/ml; P0.001] and IGF-I [1.6 (0.7 – 20.0) vs. 6.1 (4.3 – 7.1) ng/ml ; P 0.001] were significantly lower in cases than in controls. Likewise, cord serum leptin [5.8 (2.1 – 12.6) vs. 20.0 (5.1 – 37.8) ng/ml; P0.001] and cord serum IGF-I [1.7 (1.3 – 2.0) vs. 6.9 (5.9 – 7.4) ng/ml; P0.001] levels were significantly lower in cases than in controls. Significant positive correlation was found between birth weight and cord leptin ( r0.398), maternal ( r0.795) and cord ( r0.863) IGF-I levels. Maternal and cord leptin and IGF-I levels were significantly lower in LBW babies.

Maternal blood lead concentrations, DNA methylation of MEG3 DMR regulating the DLK1/MEG3 imprinted domain and early growth in a multiethnic cohort

Prenatal exposure to lead (Pb) is known to decrease fetal growth; but its effects on postnatal growth and mechanistic insights linking Pb to growth are not clearly defined. Genomically imprinted genes are powerful regulators of growth and energy utilization, and may be particularly vulnerable to environmental Pb exposure. Because imprinting is established early and maintained via DNA methylation, we hypothesized that prenatal Pb exposure alters DNA methylation of imprinted genes resulting in lower birth weight and rapid growth. Pb was measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) in peripheral blood of 321 women of the Newborn Epigenetic STudy (NEST) obtained at gestation ~12 weeks. Linear and logistic regression models were used to evaluate associations between maternal Pb levels, methylation of differentially methylated regions (DMRs) regulating H19, MEG3, PEG3, and PLAGL1, measured by pyrosequencing, birth weight, and weight-for-height z score gains between birth and age 1yr, ages 1-2yrs, and 2-3yrs. Children born to women with Pb levels in the upper tertile had higher methylation of the regulatory region of the MEG3 DMR imprinted domain (β= 1.57, se= 0.82, p= 0.06). Pb levels were also associated with lower birth weight (β= -0.41, se= 0.15, p= 0.01) and rapid gains in adiposity (OR= 12.32, 95%CI=1.25-121.30, p= 0.03) by age 2-3 years. These data provide early human evidence for Pb associations with hypermethylation at the MEG3 DMR regulatory region and rapid adiposity gain-a risk factor for childhood obesity and cardiometabolic diseases in adulthood.

Neighborhood and Family Environment of Expectant Mothers May Influence Prenatal Programming of Adult Cancer Risk: Discussion and an Illustrative DNA Methylation Example

Childhood stressors including physical abuse predict adult cancer risk. Prior research portrays this finding as an indirect mechanism that operates through coping behaviors, including adult smoking, or through increased toxic exposures during childhood. Little is known about potential direct causal mechanisms between early-life stressors and adult cancer. Because prenatal conditions can affect gene expression by altering DNA methylation, with implications for adult health, we hypothesize that maternal stress may program methylation of cancer-linked genes during gametogenesis. To illustrate this hypothesis, we related maternal social resources to methylation at the imprinted MEG3 differentially methylated regulatory region, which has been linked to multiple cancer types. Mothers (n = 489) from a diverse birth cohort (Durham, North Carolina) provided newborns' cord blood and completed a questionnaire. Newborns of currently married mothers showed lower (-0.321 SD, p < .05) methylation compared to newborns of never-married mothers, who did not differ from newborns whose mothers were cohabiting and others (adjusted for demographics). MEG3 DNA methylation levels were also lower when maternal grandmothers co-resided before pregnancy (-0.314 SD, p < .05). A 1-SD increase in prenatal neighborhood disadvantage also predicted higher methylation (-0.137 SD, p < .05). In conclusion, we found that maternal social resources may result in differential methylation of MEG3, which demonstrates a potential partial mechanism priming socially disadvantaged newborns for later risk of some cancers.

Intraplacental gene therapy with Ad-IGF-1 corrects naturally occurring rabbit model of intrauterine growth restriction

Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) due to placental insufficiency is a leading cause of perinatal complications for which there is no effective prenatal therapy. We have previously demonstrated that intraplacental injection of adenovirus-mediated insulin-like growth factor-1 (Ad-IGF-1) corrects fetal weight in a murine IUGR model induced by mesenteric uterine artery branch ligation. This study investigated the effect of intraplacental Ad-IGF-1 gene therapy in a rabbit model of naturally occurring IUGR (runt) due to placental insufficiency, which is similar to the human IUGR condition with onset in the early third trimester, brain sparing, and a reduction in liver weight. Laparotomy was performed on New Zealand White rabbits on day 21 of 30 days of gestation and litters were divided into five groups: Control (first position)+phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), control+Ad-IGF-1, runt (third position)+PBS, runt+Ad-IGF-1, and runt+Ad-LacZ. The effect of IGF-1 gene therapy on fetal, placental, liver, heart, lung, and musculoskeletal weights of the growth-restricted pups was examined. Protein expression after gene transfer was seen along the maternal-fetal placenta interface (n=12) 48 hr after gene therapy. There was minimal gene transfer detected in the pups or maternal organs. At term, compared with the normally grown first-position control, the runted third-position pups demonstrated significantly lower fetal, placental, liver, lung, and musculoskeletal weights. The fetal, liver, and musculoskeletal weights were restored to normal by intraplacental Ad-IGF-1 gene therapy (p<0.01), with no change in the placental weight. Intraplacental gene therapy is a novel strategy for the treatment of IUGR caused by placental insufficiency that takes advantage of an organ that will be discarded at birth. Development of nonviral IGF-1 gene delivery using placenta-specific promoters can potentially minimize toxicity to the mother and fetus and facilitate clinical translation of this novel therapy.