Anti-Inflammatory Markers IL-10 and IL-35: Role in Developing Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Introduction: Inflammatory state is considered as the pathogenesis of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM). Cytokines can cause insulin resistance and maybe the molecular basis of inflammation in Diabetes Mellitus (DM). Aim: To assess the level of Interleukin-10 (IL-10) in addition to a new anti-inflammatory cytokine marker Interleukin-35 (IL-35) in pregnant women with and without GDM. Materials and Methods: Participants in the study included 29 pregnant women with GDM (case group) and 29 healthy pregnant women (control group). Blood levels of IL-10, IL-35, Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) and C-Reactive Protein (CRP) were measured in all participants. Independent t-test and Chi-square test were used for data analysis. Quantitative data between three gestational subgroups (<29, 29-32 and >32 weeks) in each GDM and control group were compared by ANOVA test. The p-value <0.05 was considered significant. Results: The mean levels of IL-10 were 1.03±0.85 and 0.83±0.57 pg/mL (p=0.284) and the mean IL-35 concentrations were 10.2±8.1 and 8.8±4.3 pg/mL (p=0.437) in GDM and control groups, respectively. The mean CRP and ESR levels were higher in the GDM group than the controls but the differences were not statistically significant. In the GDM group, IL-10 was significantly lower at the early stage of pregnancy (<29 weeks) compared to the later stage (>32 weeks) (p=0.04), but this was not true in the control group. There was no significant difference between the mean level of IL-35 at different gestational ages in both GDM and control groups. Conclusion: The present study showed the decreased level of anti-inflammatory marker IL-10 in the late stage of pregnancy in diabetic women especially during the last weeks of gestation. New inflammatory marker IL-35 was not statistically significant in GDM subjects.