Cord Blood Adiponectin Research Articles

Associations Between Prenatal Blood Metals and Vitamins and Cord Blood Peptide Hormone Concentrations.

Nonessential metals have endocrine disrupting properties, interfere with cellular processes, generate reactive oxygen and deplete antioxidants, while essential metals and vitamins act as antioxidants. The extent to which prenatal metals and vitamins are associated with cord blood hormones involved in maternal and fetal metabolic and growth processes is unknown. We measured six nonessential (arsenic, barium, cadmium, cesium, lead, mercury) and four essential (magnesium, manganese, selenium, zinc) metals and trace elements, and two vitamins (B12 and folate) in first trimester blood from participants in the longitudinal pre-birth Project Viva cohort, who were recruited between 1999-2002 in eastern Massachusetts. We measured adiponectin, C-peptide, IGF-1, IGF-2, IGFBP-3, insulin, and leptin concentrations in cord blood (~n=695). We used covariate-adjusted quantile g-computation for mixtures and linear regression for individual exposures to estimate associations with cord blood peptide hormones. The essential metal mixture (magnesium, manganese, selenium, zinc) was associated with higher IGF-1 (β=3.20 ng/ml per quartile, 95% CI: 0.39, 6.01), IGF-2 (β=10.93 ng/ml, 95% CI: 0.08, 21.79), and leptin (β=1.03 ng/ml, 95% CI: 0.25, 1.80). Magnesium was associated with higher leptin (β=2.90 ng/ml, 95% CI: 0.89, 4.91), while B12 was associated with lower adiponectin, IGF-2, and leptin, but higher C-peptide. Other individual nonessential metals were associated with cord blood hormones. Our findings suggest that some prenatal metals and vitamins are associated with cord blood hormones, which may influence growth and development.

Cord blood adiponectin and leptin concentrations in monochorionic twins with selective intrauterine growth restriction and their associations with childhood growth trajectories.

Being born with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) was associated with subsequent health issues later in life. However, the underlying role of adipokines in IUGR is unknown. To measure the adiponectin and leptin concentrations in the cord blood of monochorionic (MC) twins with selective IUGR (sIUGR) and evaluate their associations with childhood growth trajectories. Cord blood samples were collected from 22 pairs of MC twins with sIUGR and 20 pairs of normal MC twins. Adiponectin and leptin concentrations in cord blood were determined by ELISA. Data regarding perinatal outcomes and infantile growth trajectories from birth to 24 months were obtained. Only cord blood adiponectin concentrations were associated with IUGR (β -1.51, 95% CI -2.45, -0.57, p = 0.002), and cord blood leptin concentrations were significantly lower in sIUGR twins compared to normal twins (2.8 ± 1.6 vs. 6.4 ± 3.0, p < 0.001). Adiponectin concentrations were negatively associated with height increments from birth to 6 months (β -0.28, 95% CI -0.51, -0.06, p = 0.015). Leptin concentrations were negatively associated with weight at 6 and 24 months (β -0.12 95% CI -0.22, -0.02, p = 0.002; β -0.18 95% CI -0.33, -0.03, p = 0.019) and weight and height increments from birth to 6 months (β -0.17 95% CI -0.29, -0.06, p = 0.020; β -0.40 95% CI -0.81, -0.01, p = 0.037). Cord blood adiponectin concentrations were negatively associated with IUGR but did not predict childhood growth. Cord blood leptin concentrations were inversely associated with weight and height increments in the first 6 months.

Docosahexaenoic acid supplementation in gestational diabetes mellitus and neonatal metabolic health biomarkers.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) "programs" an elevated risk of metabolic dysfunctional disorders in the offspring, and has been associated with elevated leptin and decreased adiponectin levels in cord blood. We sought to assess whether docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation in GDM affects neonatal metabolic health biomarkers especially leptin and adiponectin. In a randomized controlled trial, singleton pregnant women with de novo diagnosis of GDM at 24-28 weeks of gestation were randomized to dietary supplementation of 500 mg DHA per day (intervention, n = 30) until delivery or standard care (control, n = 38). The primary outcomes were cord blood leptin and total adiponectin concentrations. Secondary outcomes included high-molecular-weight (HMW) adiponectin and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) concentrations in cord blood, maternal glycemic control post-intervention and birth weight (z score). In parallel, 38 euglycemic pregnant women were recruited for comparisons of cord blood biomarkers. There were no significant differences in cord serum leptin, total and HMW adiponectin and IGF-1 concentrations between DHA supplementation and control groups (all p > 0.05). Maternal fasting and 2-h postprandial blood glucose levels at 12-16 weeks post-intervention were similar between the two groups. The newborns in the DHA group had higher birth weight z scores (p = 0.02). Cord blood total and HMW adiponectin concentrations were significantly lower in GDM vs. euglycemic pregnancies. Docosahexaenoic acid supplementation at 500 mg/day in GDM women did not affect neonatal metabolic biomarkers including leptin, adiponectin and IGF-1. The results are reassuring in light of the absence of influence on neonatal adipokines (leptin and adiponectin), and potential benefits to fetal growth and development. Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT03569501.

Genome-wide placental DNA methylations in fetal overgrowth and associations with leptin, adiponectin and fetal growth factors

BackgroundFetal overgrowth “programs” an elevated risk of type 2 diabetes in adulthood. Epigenetic alterations may be a mechanism in programming the vulnerability. We sought to characterize genome-wide alterations in placental gene methylations in fetal overgrowth and the associations with metabolic health biomarkers including leptin, adiponectin and fetal growth factors.ResultsComparing genome-wide placental gene DNA methylations in large-for-gestational-age (LGA, an indicator of fetal overgrowth, n = 30) versus optimal-for-gestational-age (OGA, control, n = 30) infants using the Illumina Infinium Human Methylation-EPIC BeadChip, we identified 543 differential methylation positions (DMPs; 397 hypermethylated, 146 hypomethylated) at false discovery rate < 5% and absolute methylation difference > 0.05 after adjusting for placental cell-type heterogeneity, maternal age, pre-pregnancy BMI and HbA1c levels during pregnancy. Twenty-five DMPs annotated to 20 genes (QSOX1, FCHSD2, LOC101928162, ADGRB3, GCNT1, TAP1, MYO16, NAV1, ATP8A2, LBXCOR1, EN2, INCA1, CAMTA2, SORCS2, SLC4A4, RPA3, UMAD1,USP53, OR2L13 and NR3C2) could explain 80% of the birth weight variations. Pathway analyses did not detect any statistically significant pathways after correcting for multiple tests. We validated a newly discovered differentially (hyper-)methylated gene-visual system homeobox 1 (VSX1) in an independent pyrosequencing study sample (LGA 47, OGA 47). Our data confirmed a hypermethylated gene—cadherin 13 (CDH13) reported in a previous epigenome-wide association study. Adiponectin in cord blood was correlated with its gene methylation in the placenta, while leptin and fetal growth factors (insulin, IGF-1, IGF-2) were not.ConclusionsFetal overgrowth may be associated with a large number of altered placental gene methylations. Placental VSX1 and CDH13 genes are hypermethylated in fetal overgrowth. Placental ADIPOQ gene methylations and fetal circulating adiponectin levels were correlated, suggesting the contribution of placenta-originated adiponectin to cord blood adiponectin.

Cord blood adiponectin and leptin are associated with a lower risk of stunting during infancy

Undernutrition is responsible for up to 45% of deaths in children under five, with low- and middle-income countries disproportionately affected. Adipokines are known modulators of metabolism and have been linked to growth rates and neurocognition during infancy. We examined the relationship(s) between cord blood adiponectin and leptin and both longitudinal growth and cognition during the first year of life using generalized estimating equations. Infants were classified as underweight (weight-for-age z-score [WAZ]), stunted (height-for-age z-score [HAZ]) or wasted (weight-for-height z-score [WHZ]) using WHOAnthro software. Cord blood adiponectin and leptin levels were highly correlated (r = 0.35, P < 0.0001) and positively associated with birth WAZ (r = 0.34 and r = 0.45, P < 0.0001, respectively). Adipokines were independently, inversely associated with weight gain. Infants in the highest quintile of adipokine production had a lower risk of being stunted, while neither was associated with lower WAZ or WHZ in final adjusted models. Cognition was not found to be independently related to cord blood leptin or adiponectin. The negative association with adipokines and rate of weight gain during infancy may reflect heightened nutritional status at birth rather than a direct hormonal influence. The relationship between leptin or adiponectin and longitudinal length gains suggests that both adipokines may promote linear growth during infancy.

Genome-Wide Placental Gene Methylations in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, Fetal Growth and Metabolic Health Biomarkers in Cord Blood.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) “program” an elevated risk of metabolic syndrome in the offspring. Epigenetic alterations are a suspected mechanism. GDM has been associated with placental DNA methylation changes in some epigenome-wide association studies. It remains unclear which genes or pathways are affected, and whether any placental differential gene methylations are correlated to fetal growth or circulating metabolic health biomarkers. In an epigenome-wide association study using the Infinium MethylationEPIC Beadchip, we sought to identify genome-wide placental differentially methylated genes and enriched pathways in GDM, and to assess the correlations with fetal growth and metabolic health biomarkers in cord blood. The study samples were 30 pairs of term placentas in GDM vs. euglycemic pregnancies (controls) matched by infant sex and gestational age at delivery in the Shanghai Birth Cohort. Cord blood metabolic health biomarkers included insulin, C-peptide, proinsulin, IGF-I, IGF-II, leptin and adiponectin. Adjusting for maternal age, pre-pregnancy BMI, parity, mode of delivery and placental cell type heterogeneity, 256 differentially methylated positions (DMPs,130 hypermethylated and 126 hypomethylated) were detected between GDM and control groups accounting for multiple tests with false discovery rate <0.05 and beta-value difference >0.05. WSCD2 was identified as a differentially methylated gene in both site- and region-level analyses. We validated 7 hypermethylated (CYP1A2, GFRA1, HDAC4, LIMS2, NAV3, PAX6, UPK1B) and 10 hypomethylated (DPP10, CPLX1, CSMD2, GPR133, NRXN1, PCSK9, PENK, PRDM16, PTPRN2, TNXB) genes reported in previous epigenome-wide association studies. We did not find any enriched pathway accounting for multiple tests. DMPs in 11 genes (CYP2D7P1, PCDHB15, ERG, SIRPB1, DKK2, RAPGEF5, CACNA2D4, PCSK9, TSNARE1, CADM2, KCNAB2) were correlated with birth weight (z score) accounting for multiple tests. There were no significant correlations between placental gene methylations and cord blood biomarkers. In conclusions, GDM was associated with DNA methylation changes in a number of placental genes, but these placental gene methylations were uncorrelated to the observed metabolic health biomarkers (fetal growth factors, leptin and adiponectin) in cord blood. We validated 17 differentially methylated placental genes in GDM, and identified 11 differentially methylated genes relevant to fetal growth.

Impaired Intrauterine Growth in the Context of Maternal Hookworm Infection During Gestation.

Hookworm infection is associated with poor nutritional outcomes, anemia, and impaired cognitive performance. We examined the association between maternal hookworm infection and birth outcomes in a cohort of women in Leyte, Philippines. We observed poor intrauterine growth characteristics associated with maternal hookworm only among male offspring, with lower birth weight, head circumference, and placental surface area. Male neonates also had higher insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF-2) and lower adiponectin in cord blood. These data intriguingly suggest nutritional impacts of maternal hookworm infection during pregnancy may be divergent based on sex of the offspring.

Relationship between the levels of cord blood resistin, adiponectin, CD4 and CD8 and their influence on early neonatal outcomes

Relationship between the levels of cord blood resistin, adiponectin, CD4 and CD8 and their influence on early neonatal outcomes

Determinants of cord blood adipokines and association with neonatal abdominal adipose tissue distribution

BackgroundCord blood leptin and adiponectin are adipokines known to be associated with birth weight and overall infant adiposity. However, few studies have investigated their associations with abdominal adiposity in neonates. We examined maternal factors associated with cord blood leptin and adiponectin, and the association of these adipokines with neonatal adiposity and abdominal fat distribution measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in an Asian mother–offspring cohort.MethodsGrowing Up in Singapore Towards healthy Outcomes (GUSTO), is a prospective mother–offspring birth cohort study in Singapore. Cord blood plasma leptin and adiponectin concentrations were measured using Luminex and Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay respectively in 816 infants. A total of 271 neonates underwent MRI within the first 2-weeks after delivery. Abdominal superficial (sSAT), deep subcutaneous (dSAT), and intra-abdominal (IAT) adipose tissue compartment volumes were quantified from MRI images. Multivariable regression analyses were performed.ResultsIndian or Malay ethnicity, female sex, and gestational age were positively associated with cord blood leptin and adiponectin concentrations. Maternal gestational diabetes (GDM) positively associated with cord blood leptin concentrations but inversely associated with cord blood adiponectin concentrations. Maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) showed a positive relationship with cord blood leptin but not with adiponectin concentrations. Each SD increase in cord blood leptin was associated with higher neonatal sSAT, dSAT and IAT; differences in SD (95% CI): 0.258 (0.142, 0.374), 0.386 (0.254, 0.517) and 0.250 (0.118, 0.383), respectively. Similarly, each SD increase in cord blood adiponectin was associated with higher neonatal sSAT and dSAT; differences in SD (95% CI): 0.185 (0.096, 0.274) and 0.173 (0.067, 0.278), respectively. The association between cord blood adiponectin and neonatal adiposity was observed in neonates of obese mothers only.ConclusionsCord blood leptin and adiponectin concentrations were associated with ethnicity, maternal BMI and GDM, sex and gestational age. Both adipokines showed positive association with neonatal abdominal adiposity.

Umbilical Cord Blood Adiponectin, Leptin, Insulin, and Ghrelin in Premature Infants and Their Association With Birth Outcomes.

BackgroundPremature/low-birth-weight infants are at significant risk of metabolic diseases in adulthood, which may be related to the levels of fetal adipokine. Here, we investigated the differences in the levels of umbilical cord blood adiponectin, leptin, insulin, and ghrelin in preterm and term infants and sought to elucidate the link between these hormones and fetal growth. We also evaluated the interrelationship among these metabolic hormones in both groups of newborns.MethodsA total of 149 mother–infant pairs (100 in the preterm group and 49 in the term group) were enrolled in the study. The preterm group was further subdivided according to birth weight (≤1,500, 1,501–2,000, 2,001–2,500, and >2,500 g), gestational age (<34 vs. ≥34 weeks), and appropriate for gestational age (AGA) vs. small for gestational age (SGA). The general condition of the mothers and the growth parameters of the newborns at birth were recorded.ResultsThe levels of adiponectin, leptin, and ghrelin were lower in the preterm group than those in the term group (p < 0.05). In the preterm group, the leptin levels of infants with gestational age ≥34 weeks were significantly higher than those of infants with gestational age <34 weeks (mean ln leptin = 0.63 vs. 0.36 ng/ml, p = 0.009). The levels of adiponectin were lower in the SGA group than those in the AGA group (mean ln adiponectin = 2.26 vs. 2.84 µg/ml, p = 0.001), whereas those of ghrelin displayed the opposite trend (mean ln ghrelin = 6.29 vs. 5.71 pg/ml, p < 0.001). Leptin was significantly correlated with insulin both in preterm infants with birth weight (BW) >2,000 g and in term infants. Umbilical cord blood leptin was positively correlated with the BW, birth length, and head circumference of newborns (r = 0.460, 0.311, and 0.310, respectively, all p < 0.05), whereas ghrelin was negatively correlated with the same parameters (r = −0.372, −0.415, and −0.373, respectively, all p > 0.05).ConclusionsThe lack of maturation of adipose tissue and the gastrointestinal tract by the fetus due to prematurity is associated with changes in the levels of cord blood adiponectin, leptin, and ghrelin. The dysregulation of these hormones in preterm infants may be a risk factor for fetal growth and future metabolic diseases.

The asthma predictive index as a surrogate diagnostic tool in preschoolers: Analysis of a longitudinal birth cohort.

To evaluate if the asthma predictive index (API) can be used as surrogate for asthma diagnosis in preschoolers. Birth cohort of 339 pregnant women enrolled at delivery and their offspring, who were followed for atopy, wheezing, and other respiratory illnesses through 30 months of age. The API was determined at 30 months of age by the researchers; and examined its association with physician-diagnosed asthma during the first 30 months, made independently by the primary care physician not involved in the study. Among 307 offspring with complete follow-up, 44 (14.3%) were API+. Maternal body mass index, maternal education, past oral contraceptive use, birthweight, placenta weight, age of daycare at 12 m, gastroesophageal reflux disease at 12 m, acute otitis media at 18 m, bronchiolitis, croup and pneumonia, cord blood adiponectin were all associated with API+. In the multivariable analysis, API+ was associated with almost sixfold odds of asthma diagnosis (adjusted OR = 5.7, 95% CI [2.6-12.3]), after adjusting for the relevant covariates above including respiratory infections like bronchiolitis and pneumonia. The API sensitivity was 48%, specificity 92%, 61% PPV, 88% NPV, 6.4 LR+, 0.56 LR-, 0.84 diagnosis accuracy. The adjusted odds for asthma was 11.4. This longitudinal birth cohort suggests, for first time, that API (a structured definition for asthma), could be used as a diagnostic tool, not only as a prognostic tool, in toddlers and preschoolers.

Maternal Midpregnancy Leptin and Adiponectin Levels as Predictors of Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Prenatal Cohort Study.

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are a group of conditions characterized by impaired social function and repetitive behaviors. Their etiology is largely unknown. This work aims to examine the associations of maternal second-trimester and cord blood leptin and adiponectin levels with ASDs in offspring. We used data from 1164 mother-child pairs enrolled in Project Viva, a prospective prebirth cohort. We used logistic regression analysis to examine the associations of leptin and adiponectin levels in maternal second-trimester blood and cord blood obtained at birth with ASDs. Additionally, we examined the association of maternal prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) as an exposure. Main outcome measures included doctor-diagnosed ASDs reported by mothers using questionnaires in midchildhood and early adolescence. The cumulative incidence of ASDs was 3.4%. Maternal prepregnancy BMI (per 5 points) was positively associated with ASDs in a logistic regression model adjusted for maternal race/ethnicity, education, smoking status and child sex (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1.38; 95% CI, 1.06-1.79). Higher second-trimester adiponectin was associated with lower odds of ASD in offspring (unadjusted OR 0.49; 95% CI, 0.30-0.78; and OR 0.54; 95% CI, 0.32-0.91 after adjusting for maternal race/ethnicity, education, child sex, OR 0.55; 95% CI, 0.33-0.93 after adjusting for BMI, gestational weight gain, gestational diabetes, and smoking status). Maternal leptin and cord blood leptin and adiponectin levels were not associated with ASDs. Prepregnancy BMI and adiponectin during pregnancy may be useful as a tool to monitor the risk of autism. Increasing adiponectin levels prenatally may play a role in the prevention of ASDs.

Correlation of serum resistin level and other metabolic hormones and immune function in neonatal umbilical cord blood.

The present study was conducted with an attempt to explore the correlation of serum resistin level and other metabolic hormones and immune function in neonatal umbilical cord blood.The levels of umbilical cord blood resistin, adiponectin, insulin, growth hormone, leptin, thyrotropin, thyroid hormone (T3, T4), lgM, lgA, lgG, CD4, and CD8 were measured in 180 full-term newborns delivered in hospital from October 2018 to November 2019. The delivery mode, weight, height, and gender at birth were recorded.The levels of resistin, insulin, and growth hormone in umbilical cord blood of newborns delivered vaginally were significantly higher than those born by cesarean section (P < .05), while the levels of adiponectin, leptin, TST, T3, T4, lgM, lgA, lgG, CD4, and CD8 were comparable between the 2 groups (P > .05). The levels of resistin, adiponectin, insulin, growth hormone, leptin, TST, T3, T4, lgM, lgA, lgG, CD4, and CD8 in cord blood of male and female newborns were comparable (P > .05). The newborns with birth weight ≥ 3501 g reported comparable results in the levels of resistin and growth hormone compared with those with birth weight of 3000 to 3500 g (P > .05), but were significantly higher than those with birth weight ≤ 2999 g (P < 0.05). In addition, the levels of adiponectin, insulin, leptin, TST, T3, T4, lgM, lgA, lgG, CD4, and CD8 were comparable among the 3 groups (P > .05). Based on Pearson correlation analysis, neonatal umbilical cord blood resistin was positively correlated with adiponectin, leptin, growth hormone, T3, and T4 (r = 0.281, 0.287, 0.321, 0.276, 0.269, P < .05). However, there was no significant correlation between neonatal umbilical cord blood resistin and insulin, TST, lgM, lgA, lgG, CD4, and CD8.The level of serum resistin in neonatal umbilical cord blood was associated with the delivery mode and birth weight, and positively correlated with adiponectin, leptin, growth hormone, T3, and T4. However, no correlation was observed between serum resistin in neonatal umbilical cord blood and insulin, TST, lgM, lgA, lgG, CD4, and CD8.

Cord Blood Adipocytokines and Body Composition in Early Childhood: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Childhood obesity is a growing epidemic. Early identification of high-risk groups will allow for the development of prevention strategies. Cord blood adipocytokines have been previously examined as biomarkers predicting future obesity. We conducted a systematic review looking at the association between cord blood leptin and adiponectin with adiposity up to 5 years of age. A literature review was performed between January 1994 and August 2020 using two bibliographic databases (Medline/Pubmed and EMBASE) and was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42017069024). Studies using skinfold thickness and direct methods of assessing body composition in full term neonates were considered. Partial correlation and multiple regression models were used to present the results. Meta-analysis was performed, were possible, using a random effects model. Cochran’s Q test was used to assess heterogeneity and I2 statistics to calculate the percentage of variation across studies. The potential for publication bias was assessed using funnel plots. Data from 22 studies were retrieved and reviewed by two independent reviewers. Cord blood leptin was positively associated with adiposity at birth (r = 0.487; 95% CI: 0.444, 0.531) but was inversely related to adiposity up to 3 years of age. The association was not sustained at 5 years. There was a weak positive association between adiponectin in cord blood and adiposity at birth (r = 0.201; 95% CI: 0.125, 0.277). No correlation was found between cord blood adiponectin in young children, but data were limited. This review supports that cord blood leptin and adiponectin are associated with adiposity at birth. The results of this study provide insight into the role of adipocytokines at birth on future metabolic health and their potential use as risk stratification tools.

The influence of gestational hypertension on cord blood adiponectin levels: a case-controlled study

Introduction:Gestational hypertension is one of the most common complications of pregnancy and childbirth worldwide and may be associated with metabolic disorders. Adiponectin is an adipocyte-specific plasma protein with insulin-sensitizing, vascular-protective, anti-inflammatory properties, and its role in metabolic disorders in prenatal and postnatal development in neonates remains unclear. The primary purpose of this study was to determine whether gestational hypertension is a condition lowering cord blood adiponectin level. Next, we have evaluated whether cord blood adiponectin level correlates with selected anthropometric parameters in neonates.Material and methods:The case–control study included 89 newborns divided into two groups: 30 neonates in the study group whose mothers were diagnosed with gestational hypertension and 59 healthy neonates born from normotensive pregnancies. Adiponectin determinations were performed in both groups, and neonatal anthropometric measurements and perinatal data were collected.Results:There was no statistically significant difference (p = 0.27) between adiponectin concentration in cord blood of newborns from the study group [median (Q1–Q3) 9.86 μg/ml (8.16–13.26 μg/ml)] compared with the control group [median (Q1–Q3) 10.65 μg/ml (8.69–14.29 μg/ml)]. No statistically significant correlations were observed between adiponectin level and gestational age, body weight, body length, and chest circumference. A significant correlation was observed between adiponectin level and head circumference among newborns in the control group and among the entire population of newborns included in the study.Conclusion:No significant influence of gestational hypertension on cord blood adiponectin levels or their correlation with neonatal anthropometric measurements was observed.

Altered Expressions of AQP3 and ADP Are Closely Related with the Risk of Preeclampsia Occurrence

To investigate the expression of aquaporin 3 (AQP3) in placenta and fetal membranes and the level of adiponectin (ADP) in the umbilical cord blood of severe preeclampsia and to analyze the relationship between the 2 proteins and severe preeclampsia, 60 pregnant women with severe preeclampsia were recruited as the case group and another group of 60 normal pregnant women in the same gestation period were selected as the control. After parturition, the transcriptional levels of AQP3 mRNA in placenta and fetal membranes were evaluated with RT-PCR. The expressions of AQP3 protein in the placenta and fetal membranes were determined by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. Meanwhile, the expression of ADP in umbilical artery blood was detected by ELISA. The content of triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and LDL-C/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in the case group was significantly higher than that in the control group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the level of TG was related to the onset of severe preeclampsia (OR 2.589). The relative expression of AQP3 mRNA and expression of AQP3 protein in placenta tissue of the case group were significantly lower than those of the control group, whereas in fetal membranes, they were significantly higher. The results of ELISA showed that the level of ADP in umbilical cord blood of neonates in the case group increased remarkably compared with that of the control group.

Sex dimorphism in the associations of gestational diabetes with cord blood adiponectin and retinol-binding protein 4

IntroductionGestational diabetes (GD) is associated with impaired insulin sensitivity in newborns. Adiponectin and retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP-4) are involved in regulating insulin sensitivity. Females are more likely to develop diabetes...

Associations between Maternal and Fetal Levels of Total Adiponectin, High Molecular Weight Adiponectin, Selected Somatomedins, and Birth Weight of Infants of Smoking and Non-Smoking Mothers.

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.

Association between levels of aquaporin 3 in the placenta and adiponectin in the umbilical cord blood with gestational diabetes mellitus and pregnancy outcome.

Pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) may have adverse pregnancy outcomes, even if their blood glucose level is well-controlled. Aquaporin 3 (AQP3) and adiponectin (APN) serve important roles in fetal growth and development. However, the associations of AQP3 and APN with GDM and pregnancy outcome are not known. Therefore, the present study was performed to evaluate the expression of AQP3 in the placenta and APN in the umbilical artery blood, and the association of the two factors with GDM and pregnancy outcome. The patient cohort was divided into two groups: Pregnant women with GDM; and pregnant women with normal glucose tolerance (NGT). The expression levels of AQP3 in the placenta and APN in the umbilical artery blood were detected. Logistic regression was used to analyze the associations of AQP3 and APN with GDM and pregnancy outcome. The expression levels of AQP3 and AQP3 mRNA in the placenta of the GDM group were decreased compared with that of the NGT group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The expression of APN in the umbilical artery blood of the GDM group was also decreased compared with that of the NGT group, and the difference was also statistically significant (P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analyses indicated that the AQP3 and APN levels were negatively correlated not only with the risk of developing GDM [AQP3 odds ratio (OR)=5.00 (P<0.01); APN OR=2.98 (P=0.01)], but also with abnormal pregnancy outcome [(AQP3 OR=4.64 (P<0.01); APN OR=5.41 (P<0.01)]. The levels of AQP3 in the placenta and APN in the umbilical cord blood were associated with GDM, and the risk of GDM was increased in pregnant women with decreased AQP3 and APN levels. The AQP3 and APN levels also had an effect on pregnancy outcome. The risk of abnormal pregnancy outcomes, including cesarean section, macrosomia, fetal distress and neonatal asphyxia, was increased in pregnant women with decreased AQP3 and APN levels.

Pregnancy-induced hypertension, preterm birth, and cord blood adipokine levels.

Maternal hypertension may alter physiological parameters, dysregulating the release of hormones such as adipokines, thus influencing the fetal growth course. This study investigated whether hypertensive disorders of pregnancy alter cord blood adipokine levels and correlate these with anthropometric parameters in preterm infants. This is a prospective cohort study with pregnant women < 37-week gestation with and without hypertension and their offspring. Cord blood leptin, adiponectin, and ghrelin were analyzed by LUMINEX®. These adipokines were compared between the groups exposed or not to gestational hypertension using non-parametric statistical tests. The hypertensive pregnancies had significantly higher cord blood leptin (1.00 (IQR 0.67-1.20ng/mL)) and adiponectin (18.52 (IQR 17.52-25.13μg/mL)) levels than those without hypertension (0.07 (IQR 0.06-0.08ng/mL) and 8.13 (IQR 6.50-8.68μg/mL), respectively, p < 0.0001). The adipokine levels were higher in AGA and SGA infants in the exposed group for both moderate and late preterm. SGA had significantly higher ghrelin levels than the AGA infants. Ghrelin levels were negatively correlated with birth weight (r = - 0.613, p < 0.001), birth length (r = - 0.510, p < 0.001), head circumference (- 0.346, p < 0.002), and gestational age (r = - 0.612, p < 0.001).Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate an increase in adipokine levels in the cord blood of preterm newborn infants exposed to maternal hypertension. What is Known: • Clinical evidence suggests that concentration of the serum adipokines may be affected by risk of hypertension in both adults and pregnant women. • Maternal profile as hypertension alters intrauterine environment and could affect the function of fetal metabolism, impairing fetal growth. What is New: • Gestational hypertension modifies the adipokine profile, with higher rates already present at birth in cord blood samples. • Within the hypertensive group and stratifying for gestation age, ghrelin concentrations were higher in SGA newborns, both in the moderate and late preterm, compared with AGA newborns.