Abstract
The aim of the study was to determine the relationships between maternal smoking, total adiponectin, high molecular weight adiponectin (HMW adiponectin), selected somatomedins, and the birth weight of newborns. A total of 78 women with a healthy, singleton pregnancy, 41 active smokers and 37 non-smokers, and their offspring were studied. Total and HMW adiponectin, insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) and 2 (IGFBP-2) were determined in maternal and cord blood by enzyme-link immunosorbent assay. Serum levels of total and HMW adiponectin were lower in smokers compared to the tobacco abstinent in both the mothers (p = 0.013; p = 0.006) and the infants (p = 0.001; p = 0.047). In smoking women and their children, serum concentrations of IGF-I were significantly lower (p = 0.014; p = 0.042), IGFBP-1 significantly higher (p = 0.009; p = 0.039), and IGFBP-2 did not differ from that observed in the non-smoking group. In multivariate analysis performed on the whole group of mothers, the highest impact of serum cotinine and IGFBP-2 levels were indicated for adiponectin and cotinine and the number of cigarettes/day for HMW adiponectin concentration. In correlation analysis estimated separately for smokers and non-smokers, neonatal birth weight was positively associated with total and HMW adiponectin concentrations in umbilical cord blood. Birth weight was also inversely associated with IGFBP-1 and positively correlated with IGF-I levels in maternal serum as well as in cord blood (r = −0.317, p = 0.005; r = −0.294, p = 0.004; r = 0.245, p = 0.031; r = 0.271, p = 0.009, respectively). The present study showed the levels of total and HMW adiponectin in umbilical cord blood may have a significant effect on fetal development. Both IGF-I and IGFBP-1 concentrations also play an essential role in fetal growth, which is an important predictor of birth weight. Cigarette smoking during pregnancy negatively affected adiponectin and the insulin growth factor profile in the serum of women and the cord blood and may be the reason for the lower birth weight of the smokers newborns compared with the nonsmokers offspring.
Highlights
In recent years, the role of adipose tissue markers in intrauterine fetal development has been widely discussed
It is documented that the proportion of maternal serum adiponectin in high molecular weight (HMW) form is negatively related with infant birth weight [2,3]
The present study showed that fetal exposure to tobacco smoke in utero may lead to changes in the secretion of adiponectin isoforms and insulin-dependent growth factors, which may lead to a reduction in the birth weight of the child
Summary
The role of adipose tissue markers in intrauterine fetal development has been widely discussed. Adiponectin belonging to the adipocytokine family is a polypeptide hormone that actively participates in the sensitization of peripheral tissues to insulin. Adiponectin circulates in three different isoforms: trimeric (low molecular weight LMW), hexameric medium molecular weight (MMW), and oligomeric high molecular weight (HMW). HMW adiponectin appears to be an active form and the HMW/total adiponectin ratio seems to provide a better reflection of peripheral insulin sensitivity than total adiponectin alone [1]. It is documented that the proportion of maternal serum adiponectin in HMW form is negatively related with infant birth weight [2,3]. Adiponectin stimulating the metabolic pathways of insulin action is an important factor for regulating the availability of this hormone and glucose, as well as insulin-dependent growth factors to the fetus [1]
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