Adipocyte-Specific Fatty Acid-Binding Protein (AFABP) and Chemerin in Association with Gestational Diabetes: A Case-Control Study

Maternal circulating leptin, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interleukine-6 in association with gestational diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Over the last decade, an emerging role of novel cytokines in the pathogenesis of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has been proposed. The present study was implemented to provide a more accurate estimate of the effect size of the association between leptin, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) and the risk of GDM.Methods: Online databases were looked up to January 2023 using the search string: (leptin OR TNF-α OR IL-6) AND "gestational diabetes." Observational studies investigating the association of selected cytokines and GDM risk were included. Odds ratios and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were extracted and random-effects models were used to estimate the pooled effect.Results: Twenty-four studies were included in the meta-analysis. A significant association was found between higher circulating leptin and the risk of GDM and the pooled estimate was 1.16 (95%CI: 1.07, 1.27). Higher circulating levels of IL-6 and TNF-α were associated with increased risk of GDM, and the pooled estimates were 1.35 (95%CI: 1.05, 1.73) and 1.28 (95%CI: 1.01, 1.62), respectively.Conclusions: The studied cytokines could be implicated in the GDM pathogenesis and used as potential biomarkers for assessing the GDM risk. Additional longitudinal studies with large sample sizes are needed for a further evaluation of these findings.

Adipokines in Pregnancy: A Systematic Review of Clinical Data

Adipokines are signaling proteins involved in metabolic, endocrinological, vascular and immunogenic processes. Associations of various adipokines with not only insulin resistance but also with increased insulin sensitivity, increased systolic blood pressure, and atherosclerosis highlight the significance of adipokines in several components of metabolic syndrome and metabolic diseases in general. As pregnancy presents a unique metabolic state, the role of adipokines in pregnancy, and even in various pregnancy complications, appears to be key to elucidating these metabolic processes. Many studies in recent years have attempted to clarify the role of adipokines in pregnancy and gestational pathologies. In this review, we aim to investigate the changes in maternal adipokine levels in physiological gestation, as well as the association of adipokines with pregnancy pathologies, such as gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and preeclampsia (PE). Furthermore, we will analyze the association of adipokines in both maternal serum and cord blood with parameters of intrauterine growth and various pregnancy outcomes.

Adiponectin, A-FABP and FGF-19 Levels in Women with Early Diagnosed Gestational Diabetes

Background: Adiponectin, adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (A-FABP), and fibroblast growth factor-19 (FGF-19) belong to proteins involved in glucose metabolism regulation. The aims of the study were to compare the plasma levels of these proteins in women with early diagnosed gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) to those in healthy controls and to investigate their changes during pregnancy after early intervention. Methods: The study was undertaken as a case-control study. Early GDM diagnosis was based on repeated fasting plasma glucose ≥5.1 and <7.0 mmol/L during the first trimester of pregnancy and exclusion of overt diabetes. Age-matched controls comprised healthy pregnant and non-pregnant women. In addition to adipokines, clinical parameters and measures of glucose control were assessed. Results: Women with GDM (n = 23) had significantly lower adiponectin and higher A-FABP levels compared to healthy pregnant (n = 29) or non-pregnant (n = 25) controls, while no significant differences in FGF-19 between the groups were found. The therapeutic intervention shifted adiponectin and A-FABP levels in GDM women towards concentrations of healthy pregnant controls. Adipokines were associated with visceral adiposity and glucose control. Conclusion: Women with GDM showed altered adipokine production even in the first trimester of pregnancy. Early therapeutic intervention not only improved glucose control but also normalized impaired adipokine production.