Cord Blood Triglyceride Research Articles

Sex-specific impact of maternal obesity on fetal placental macrophages and cord blood triglycerides

IntroductionMaternal obesity is associated with increased risk of offspring obesity and cardiometabolic disease. Altered fetoplacental immune programming is a potential candidate mechanism. Differences in fetal placental macrophages, or Hofbauer cells (HBCs), have been observed in maternal obesity, and lipid metabolism is a key function of resident macrophages that may be deranged in inflammation/immune activation. We sought to test the following hypotheses: 1) maternal obesity is associated with altered HBC density and phenotype in the term placenta and 2) obesity-associated HBC changes are associated with altered placental lipid transport to the fetus. The impact of fetal sex was evaluated in all experiments. MethodsWe quantified the density and morphology of CD163-and CD68-positive HBCs in placental villi in 34 full-term pregnancies undergoing cesarean delivery (N = 15, maternal BMI ≥30 kg/m2; N = 19, BMI <30 kg/m2). Antibody-positive cells in terminal villi were detected and cell size and circularity analyzed using a semi-automated method for thresholding of bright-field microscopy images (ImageJ). Placental expression of lipid transporter genes was quantified using RTqPCR, and cord plasma triglycerides (TGs) were profiled using modified Wahlefeld method. The impact of maternal obesity and fetal sex on HBC features, lipid transporters, and cord TGs were evaluated by two-way ANOVA. Spearman correlations of cord TGs, HBC metrics and gene expression levels were calculated. ResultsMaternal obesity was associated with significantly increased density of HBCs, with male placentas most affected (fetal sex by maternal obesity interaction p = 0.04). CD163+ HBCs were larger and rounder in obesity-exposed male placentas. Sexually dimorphic expression of placental FATP4, FATP6, FABPPM, AMPKB1 and AMPKG and cord TGs was noted in maternal obesity, such that levels were higher in males and lower in females relative to sex-matched controls. Cord TGs were positively correlated with HBC density and FATP1 expression. DiscussionMaternal obesity is associated with sex-specific alterations in HBC density and placental lipid transporter expression, which may impact umbilical cord blood TG levels and offspring cardiometabolic programming.

Cord blood triglyceride and total cholesterol in preterm and term neonates: reference values and associated factors from the Japan Environment and Children's Study.

This study aimed to investigate the associations between cord serum total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG)levels and perinatal factors and determine the reference levels of cord blood TC and TG in Japanese neonates. This was a prospective birth cohort study using data from the Japan Environment and Children's Study, which included data on births from 2011 to 2014 in Japan. TC and TG levels were determined in cord blood samples. A total of 70,535 pairs of neonates (male: 36,001, female: 34,524) and mothers were included. The mean cord blood TC and TG levels were 72.2mg/dL and 24.4mg/dL, respectively. Multiple regression analyses revealed that gestational age and birth weight were significantly associated with cord blood TC (coefficient -2.35, 95% confidence interval [CI] -2.40 - -2.22 and coefficient 0.002, 95% CI 0.002-0.003, respectively) and TG (coefficient 3.09, 95% CI 3.01-3.17 and coefficient - 0.009, 95% CI - 0.009-0.008, respectively) levels. Mean cord blood TG and TC levels decreased over the preterm period; however, these parameters increased during the term. Furthermore, the mean cord blood TC and TG levels decreased over the entire range of birth weight categories. Conclusion: Mean cord blood TG and TC levels decreased over the preterm period; however, these parameters increased during the term. Furthermore, the mean cord blood TC and TG levels decreased over the entire range of birth weight categories in Japanese newborns. Maternal complications such as maternal parity, HDP, PROM, maternal obesity and income level were associated with cord TC and TG levels. What is Known: • No studies have ascertained the reference levels of cord blood lipid levels in Japan. What is New: • Mean cord blood TG and TC levels decreased over the preterm period; however, these parameters increased during the term.

Associations between cord blood metabolic factors and early-childhood growth and overweight and obesity.

This prospective cohort study was aimed at investigating the associations between cord blood metabolic factors and early-childhood growth, further elucidating the relationships between cord blood metabolites and overweight and obesity in early life. A total of 2,267 pairs of mothers and offspring were recruited in our study. Cord blood plasma was assayed for triglycerides (TGs), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), C-peptide, insulin, and glycosylated hemoglobin type A1C (HbA1c) levels. Data of anthropometric measurements were collected from offspring at birth, 6 months, 12 months, and 18 months. Multiple linear regression models were used to evaluate the correlations between cord blood metabolic factors and weight Z-scores, body mass index (BMI) Z-scores, and weight gains at the early stage of life. Forward stepwise logistic regression analyses were applied to explore the associations between cord blood metabolic factors and early-childhood overweight and obesity. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were applied to determine the optimal cutoff points for cord blood metabolic factors in predicting early-childhood overweight and obesity. After adjustments for covariates, cord blood TG concentrations and TG/TC ratios were negatively associated with weight Z-scores from birth to 18 months. Cord blood C-peptide and HbA1c levels were inversely associated with weight Z-scores at 6 months and 18 months. Cord blood TG concentrations and TG/TC ratios were negatively correlated with BMI Z-scores up to 18 months. Cord blood C-peptide levels and HbA1c levels were inversely correlated with BMI Z-scores at 18 months. Cord blood TG, TG/TC ratios, C-peptide, and HbA1c had negative correlations with weight gains from birth to 6 months, but the correlations attenuated as time went on. Increase in cord blood TG and HbA1c levels and TG/TC ratios were significantly associated with decreased risks of overweight and obesity at 6 months, 12 months, and 18 months. Cord blood metabolic factors were significantly associated with early-childhood growth patterns.

Abstract 18: Impact of Preeclampsia on Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Mothers and Newborns

Introduction: Preeclampsia is a multifactorial disease and a cause of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. Women with preeclampsia have increased risk of cardiovascular diseases in later life. The impact on the offspring is, however, still uncertain. Lipid traits in newborns are considered to reflect the child’s own production. Hypothesis: We assessed the hypothesis that preeclampsia increases risk of future cardiovascular disease in both mother and offspring. Methods: For this purpose, we used the Copenhagen General Population Study comprising 59,571 women of which 1,365 had a diagnosis of preeclampsia to investigate the association between preeclampsia and risk of cardiovascular diseases. Further, we used the Copenhagen Baby Heart Study comprising more than 13,000 umbilical cord blood samples and assessed the impact of preeclampsia on atherogenic lipid traits in cord blood. Results: Age adjusted hazard ratios for preeclampsia versus no preeclampsia (95% CI) were 1.48 (1.13-1.94) for ischemic heart disease, 1.50 (1.07-2.12) for ischemic cerebrovascular disease, and 1.53 (1.22-1.91) for composite vascular disease. Corresponding multivariable adjusted hazard ratios (95% CI) were 1.31 (1.00-1.72), 1.44 (1.02-2.02), and 1.39 (1.11-1.74). Concentrations of non-HDL cholesterol, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, apolipoprotein B, and triglycerides in cord blood increased stepwise from no preeclampsia (n=11,221) to mild/moderate preeclampsia (n=253) to severe preeclampsia (n=104) (p for trends &lt;0.0001 for non-HDL cholesterol, total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol; p for trend=0.0002 for apolipoprotein B; p for trend=0.003 for triglycerides). Multivariable adjusted odds ratios (95% CI) for preeclampsia versus no preeclampsia (reference) for cord blood concentrations above the 80 th percentile were 2.09 (1.67-2.61) for non-HDL cholesterol, 1.58 (1.25-2.01) for total cholesterol, 1.72 (1.37-2.16) for LDL cholesterol, 1.38 (1.07-1.78) for apolipoprotein B, and 2.64 (2.07-3.35) for triglycerides. Conclusion: Women with preeclampsia had increased risk of future cardiovascular disease and lipid traits in umbilical cord blood of their offspring were elevated. This indicates that preeclampsia affects lipid metabolism during fetal life and potentially contributes to an increased risk of future cardiovascular disease in offspring of mothers with preeclampsia.

Associations of Cord Blood Lipids with Childhood Adiposity at the Age of Three Years: A Prospective Birth Cohort Study.

We aimed to examine the associations between cord blood lipids and childhood adiposity and to investigate whether these associations vary across birth weight categories (small for gestational age (SGA), appropriate for gestational age (AGA) and large for gestational age (LGA)) in 1306 infants in the Born in Guangzhou Cohort Study, China. Adiposity outcomes at the age of three years included z-scores of weight-for-length/height (WFLZ), body mass index (BMIZ), subscapular (SSTZ) and triceps skinfold thickness (TSTZ), and the sum of skinfold thicknesses (SSFTZ). Cord blood triglycerides (TG) levels were negatively associated with WFLZ and BMIZ, whereas high density lipoprotein (HDL) levels were positively associated with WFLZ, BMIZ, TSTZ and SSFTZ. These associations were attenuated after adjustment for birth weight. Stratified analyses revealed that total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels were positively associated with childhood adiposity indicators among AGA infants but tended to be negatively associated with the adiposity indicators among LGA infants (p values for interaction <0.05). Furthermore, TG levels appeared to be positively associated with adiposity indicators among SGA infants but negatively associated with the outcomes among LGA infants (p values for interaction <0.05). Cord blood lipids levels might be associated with childhood adiposity, and these associations appear to differ across different birth weight categories. If confirmed in future studies, our findings suggest that individualized management plans might be warranted in preventing obesity.

Comparison of glucose and lipid values in cord blood of newborns with small, normal and large birth weight according to gestational age

Objective: Fetal growth is a complex process influenced by environmental and genetic factors. Environmental factors such as glucose, lipids and amino acids play a role in growth of the fetus. Glucose, insulin and lipid levels in the cord blood can change the birth weight according to the gestational age of the newborn. The aim of the study is to examine the relationship between glucose, insulin and lipid levels in cord blood of newborns with small (SGA), normal (AGA) and large (LGA) birth weight according to gestational age. Materials and Methods: 358 term newborns born in our hospital between January 2019 and January 2020 were included in the study. By looking at the weight percentile of the newborns, those with birth weight below the 10th percentile were considered as SGA newborns, those with birth weight of 10-90 percentiles as AGA newborns, and those with birth weight above the 90th percentile were considered as LGA newborns. Insulin, glucose, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, VLDL cholesterol, total cholesterol and triglyceride levels of umbilical cord blood were studied after delivery. Results: Of 358 newborns included in the study, 27 (7.5%) were SGA, 312 (87.2%) were AGA, and 19 (5.3%) were LGA. The mean insulin, glucose, cholesterol and triglyceride values of the newborns in all three groups were compared. Cord blood glucose value was found lower as significantly in newborns with SGA. There was not significant difference between cord blood insulin, cholesterol and triglyceride levels of SGA, AGA and LGA newborns. Conclusion: In our study, significant correlation was found between birth weight and cord blood glucose and cholesterol levels.

The unexplored role of sedentary time and physical activity in glucose and lipid metabolism-related placental mRNAs in pregnant women who are obese: the DALI lifestyle randomised controlled trial.

We aimed to explore: (i) the association of sedentary time (ST) and physical activity (PA) during pregnancy with the placental expression of genes related to glucose and lipid metabolism in pregnant women who are obese; (ii) maternal metabolic factors mediating changes in these placental transcripts; and (iii) cord blood markers related to the mRNAs mediating neonatal adiposity. Multicentre randomised controlled trial. Hospitals in nine European countries. A cohort of 112 pregnant women with placental tissue. Both ST and moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) levels were measured objectively using accelerometry at three time periods during pregnancy. Placental mRNAs (FATP2, FATP3, FABP4, GLUT1 and PPAR-γ) were measured with NanoString technology. Maternal and fetal metabolic markers and neonatal adiposity were assessed. Longer periods of ST, especially in early to middle pregnancy, was associated with lower placental FATP2 and FATP3 expression (P < 0.05), whereas MVPA at baseline was inversely associated with GLUT1 mRNA (P = 0.02). Although placental FATP2 and FATP3 expression were regulated by the insulin-glucose axis (P < 0.05), no maternal metabolic marker mediated the association of ST/MVPA with placental mRNAs (P > 0.05). Additionally, placental FATP2 expression was inversely associated with cord blood triglycerides and free fatty acids (FFAs; P < 0.01). No cord blood marker mediated neonatal adiposity except for cord blood leptin, which mediated the effects of PPAR-γ on neonatal sum of skinfolds (P < 0.05). In early to middle pregnancy, ST is associated with the expression of placental genes linked to lipid transport. PA is hardly related to transporter mRNAs. Strategies aimed at reducing sedentary behaviour during pregnancy could modulate placental gene expression, which may help to prevent unfavourable fetal and maternal pregnancy outcomes. Reducing sedentary behaviour in pregnancy might modulate placental expression of genes related to lipid metabolism in women who are obese.

886 Placental hofbauer cell density is associated with increased neonatal birthweight and cord blood lipids

Maternal obesity is associated with adverse offspring cardiometabolic programming. Hofbauer cells (HC) are resident fetal tissue macrophages and are altered in pathological pregnancy conditions associated with fetoplacental immune activation. We sought to determine whether the number and activation state of placental Hofbauer cells (HC) as determined by CD163 and CD68 expression are associated with adverse maternal and/or cord blood lipid profiles. This is a cross-sectional study of 27 women undergoing planned cesarean delivery at term; women with hypertension or diabetes were excluded. Fasting maternal plasma, placental samples, and cord blood were collected at delivery. Maternal body mass index (BMI) at delivery and neonatal birthweight were obtained by chart review. Fasting lipid profiles (Total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, VLDL, triglycerides) were measured in maternal and cord blood at delivery. Immunohistochemistry was performed on serial placental sections for CD163 and CD68, markers of HC activation. Numbers of CD163+ and CD68+ cells per mm2 of villous area were quantified in terminal villi using ImageJ software and compared to maternal and fetal parameters using Spearman correlations. 41% of women were obese (N=11, pre-pregnancy BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2), and mean BMI at delivery was 33.2±7. CD163+ cells/mm2 was positively correlated with BMI at delivery (Spearman ρ=0.54, P=0.005), neonatal birthweight (ρ=0.42, P=0.03), and cord blood triglycerides (ρ=0.43, P=0.02), but not cord VLDL (ρ=0.37, P=0.06); Fig 1. CD68+ cells/mm2 was correlated with BMI at delivery (ρ=0.43, P=0.03), cord blood triglycerides (ρ=0.43, P=0.03) and cord blood VLDL (ρ=0.40, P=0.04) but not birthweight (ρ=0.24, P=0.24); Fig 2. Maternal lipids were not correlated with HC density. Fetoplacental immune activation was associated with neonatal birthweight, and altered cord blood lipid profiles in the setting of maternal obesity. Future studies will focus on HC activation as an indicator versus. mediator of offspring cardiometabolic programming.View Large Image Figure ViewerDownload Hi-res image Download (PPT)

Prenatal Exposure to Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances, Umbilical Cord Blood DNA Methylation, and Cardio-Metabolic Indicators in Newborns: The Healthy Start Study.

Background:Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are environmentally persistent chemicals widely detected in women of reproductive age. Prenatal PFAS exposure is associated with adverse health outcomes in children. We hypothesized that DNA methylation changes may result from prenatal PFAS exposure and may be linked to offspring cardio-metabolic phenotype.Objectives:We estimated associations of prenatal PFAS with DNA methylation in umbilical cord blood. We evaluated associations of methylation at selected sites with neonatal cardio-metabolic indicators.Methods:Among 583 mother–infant pairs in a prospective cohort, five PFAS were quantified in maternal serum (median 27 wk of gestation). Umbilical cord blood DNA methylation was evaluated using the Illumina HumanMethylation450 array. Differentially methylated positions (DMPs) were evaluated at a false discovery rate and differentially methylated regions (DMRs) were identified using comb-p (Šidák-adjusted ). We estimated associations between methylation at candidate DMPs and DMR sites and the following outcomes: newborn weight, adiposity, and cord blood glucose, insulin, lipids, and leptin.Results:Maternal serum PFAS concentrations were below the median for females in the U.S. general population. Moderate to high pairwise correlations were observed between PFAS concentrations (). Methylation at one DMP (cg18587484), annotated to the gene TJAP1, was associated with perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) at . Comb-p detected between 4 and 15 DMRs for each PFAS. Associated genes, some common across multiple PFAS, were implicated in growth (RPTOR), lipid homeostasis (PON1, PON3, CIDEB, NR1H2), inflammation and immune activity (RASL11B, RNF39), among other functions. There was suggestive evidence that two PFAS-associated loci (cg09093485, cg09637273) were associated with cord blood triglycerides and birth weight, respectively ().Discussion:DNA methylation in umbilical cord blood was associated with maternal serum PFAS concentrations during pregnancy, suggesting potential associations with offspring growth, metabolism, and immune function. Future research should explore whether DNA methylation changes mediate associations between prenatal PFAS exposures and child health outcomes. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP6888

Predictors of neonatal adiposity and associations by fetal sex in women with gestational diabetes mellitus and normal glucose-tolerant women.

To determine predictors of neonatal adiposity and differences in associations by fetal sex in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), normal-weight and overweight (BMI ≥ 25kg/m2) normal glucose-tolerant women (NGT). Skinfold thickness was measured in 576 newborns, and cord blood leptin, c-peptide and lipids in 327 newborns in a multi-centric prospective cohort study. Compared to neonates of normal-weight NGT women (327), neonates of women with GDM (97) were more often large-for-gestational age (LGA) (16.5% vs 8.6%, p = 0.024) ,but the macrosomia rate (8.2% vs 5.8%, p = 0.388), sum of skinfolds (13.9mm ± 2.9 vs 13.3mm ± 2.6, p = 0.067), neonatal fat mass (1333.0g ± 166.8 vs 1307.3g ± 160.9, p = 0.356), and cord blood biomarkers were not significantly different. Compared to neonates of normal-weight NGT women, neonates of overweight NGT women (152) had higher rates of macrosomia (12.5% vs 5.8%, p = 0.012), LGA (17.1% vs 8.6%, p = 0.006), higher sum of skinfolds (14.3mm ± 2.6 vs 13.2mm ± 2.6, p < 0.001), neonatal fat mass (1386.0g ± 168.6 vs 1307.3g ± 160.9, p < 0.001), % neonatal fat mass > 90th percentile (15.2% vs 7.1%, p < 0.001), without significant differences in cord blood biomarkers. Maternal BMI, fasting glycemia, triglycerides, gestational weight gain, cord blood leptin ,and cord blood triglycerides were independent predictors for neonatal adiposity. Gestational weight gain was positively associated with adiposity in boys only. Compared to neonates of normal-weight NGT women, neonates of GDM women have higher LGA rates but similar adiposity, while neonates of overweight NGT women have increased adiposity. Limiting gestational weight gain might be especially important in the male fetus to reduce neonatal adiposity.

Maternal obesity influences the endocrine cord blood profile of their offspring.

University medical centers. Offspring from obese mothers (n = 41) and healthy controls (n = 31). Cord blood withdrawal from neonates. Cord blood total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TGs), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), blood glucose (GL) and insulin (Ins). Result(s) Fetal GL and TGs were reduced in the offspring of obese women when compared to those in the offspring of the controls. The mean cord blood GL level was 47.8 mg/dL standard deviation (SD 33.1) in the offspring of the obese group vs. 57.9 mg/dL (SD 12.5) in the offspring of the control group, and the mean cord blood TG level was 26.5 (SD 33.6) in the offspring of the obese group vs. 34.6 (SD 12.3) in the offspring of the control group. Maternal obesity was also associated with reduced levels of TC and HDL-C in the pregnant women. Conclusion The observed results suggest that GL and TGs in the cord blood of the offspring of obese mothers were significantly lower than those in the offspring of the control group.

DNA methylation at LRP1 gene locus mediates the association between maternal total cholesterol changes in pregnancy and cord blood leptin levels.

Placental lipids transfer is essential for optimal fetal development, and alterations of these mechanisms could lead to a higher risk of adverse birth outcomes. Low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR), LDL receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1), and scavenger receptor class B type 1 (SCARB1) genes are encoding lipoprotein receptors expressed in the placenta where they participate in cholesterol exchange from maternal to fetal circulation. The aim of this study was thus to investigate the association between maternal lipid changes occurring in pregnancy, placental DNA methylation (DNAm) variations at LDLR, LRP1, and SCARB1 gene loci, and newborn's anthropometric profile at birth. Sixty-nine normoglycemic women were followed from the first trimester of pregnancy until delivery. Placental DNAm was quantified at 43 Cytosine-phosphate-Guanines (CpGs) at LDLR, LRP1, and SCARB1 gene loci using pyrosequencing: 4 CpGs were retained for further analysis. Maternal clinical data were collected at each trimester of pregnancy. Newborns' data were collected from medical records. Statistical models included minimally newborn sex and gestational and maternal age. Maternal total cholesterol changes during pregnancy (ΔT3-T1) were correlated with DNAm variations at LDLR (r = -0.32, p = 0.01) and LRP1 (r = 0.34, p = 0.007). DNAm at these loci was also correlated with newborns' cord blood triglyceride and leptin levels. Mediation analysis supports a causal relationship between maternal cholesterol changes, DNAm levels at LRP1 locus, and cord blood leptin concentration (pmediation = 0.02). These results suggest that LRP1 DNAm link maternal blood cholesterol changes in pregnancy and offspring adiposity at birth, which provide support for a better follow-up of blood lipids in pregnancy.

Lipid Profiles at Birth Predict Teacher-Rated Child Emotional and Social Development 5 Years Later

The fetal environment has been increasingly implicated in later psychological health, but the role of lipids is unknown. Drawing on the ethnically diverse Born in Bradford (BiB) birth cohort, the current study related levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), and triglycerides in umbilical cord blood to 1,369 children’s teacher-rated psychosocial competence approximately 5 years later. Results of ordinal logistic regressions indicated that low levels of HDL, high levels of VLDL, and high levels of triglycerides predicted greater likelihood of being rated as less competent in domains of emotion regulation, self-awareness, and interpersonal functioning. Furthermore, these results generalized across ethnic background and children’s sex and were not accounted for by variables reflecting mothers’ psychological or physical health, children’s physical health, or children’s special education status. Together, these results identify fetal exposure to anomalous lipid levels as a possible contributor to subsequent psychological health and social functioning.

СОСТОЯНИЕ ЛИПИДСИНТЕЗИРУЮЩЕЙ ФУНКЦИИ ПЕЧЕНИ ПРИ ЦЕРЕБРАЛЬНОЙ ИШЕМИИ СРЕДНЕЙ СТЕПЕНИ ТЯЖЕСТИ У НОВОРОЖДЕННЫХ ОТ МАТЕРЕЙ С ЦИТОМЕГАЛОВИРУСНОЙ ИНФЕКЦИЕЙ

The contents of total cholesterol, high-density lipoproteins, low-density lipoproteins, and triglycerides in cord blood were studied at moderate cerebral ischemia in 230 mature newborns from mothers with chronic cytomegalovirus infection (CMVI) in the second trimester of gestation (main group). The first group (control group) consisted of 30 newborns from mothers with physiological pregnancy. Depending on the activity of chronic CMVI, 4 groups were distinguished, in each of which there were 2 subgroups. Subgroup A included newborns from mothers with pregnancy and an uncomplicated threat of miscarriage, and in subgroup B there were the patients whose mothers suffered the threat of miscarriage at 16-21st week of gestation. The second group was represented by 50 newborns whose mothers had a latent course of chronic CMVI. The third group included 50 children from mothers with reactivation of chronic CMVI (titers of IgM antibodies to CMV were 1:200-1:400, IgG antibody titers to CMVI were 1:200-1:400, avidity index of IgG antibodies to CMVI was more than 65%). The fourth group included 50 newborns whose mothers suffered an acute phase of chronic CMVI (titers of IgM antibodies to CMV were 1:200-1:400, IgG antibody titers to CMV were 1:200-1: 800, avidity index of IgG antibodies to CMV was more than 65%), and in the fifth group there were 50 patients with antenatal history with reactivation of chronic CMVI (IgM antibody titers to CMV were 1:200-1:400, IgG antibody titers to CMV were 1:400-1:1600, avidity index of IgG antibodies to CMV was more than 65%). When comparing 2A and 2B subgroups with the first group, there were no significant changes in total cholesterol of high and low density lipoproteins and triglycerides. In children in 3A subgroup, the concentration of low density lipoproteins decreased to 0.34±0.02 mmol/L, and in 3B subgroup to 0.32±0.02 mmol/L with simultaneous increase in the triglyceride level to 0.51±0.03 mmol/L (in the first group, it was 0.53±0.03 mmol/L, p&lt;0.001 and 0.43±0.03 mmol/L, p&lt;0.05, respectively). In comparison with the first group in 5B subgroup, the lowest total cholesterol values (1.82±0.05 mmol/L, p&lt;0,05), low-density lipoproteins (0.21±0.05 mmol/L, p&lt;0.001), as well as high triglycerides (0.59±0.03, p&lt;0.001) were registered. These can weaken the compensatory-adaptive reactions of the hormonal system that regulates the immune response, vascular permeability and the blood-brain barrier, as well as disrupt the blood supply to the brain in newborns with moderate cerebral ischemia.

Fatty acid profile in cord blood of neonates born to optimally controlled gestational diabetes mellitus

ObjectiveTo evaluate the fatty acid profile of cord blood phospholipids (PL), cholesteryl esters (CE), triglycerides (TG) and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) in neonates born to mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) compared to non-diabetic mothers. MethodsThe offspring of 30 pregnant women (15 non-diabetic controls, 15 with diet- or insulin-controlled GDM) were recruited before delivery. Cord blood was collected. After lipid extraction, PL, CE, TG and NEFA were separated by thin layer chromatography and analysed by gas chromatography. ResultsIn GDM vs. control mothers, maternal glycated haemoglobin (A1C, mean±SD) was not different between groups: 5.3±0.5% vs. 5.3±0.3% (p=0.757), respectively. Cord plasma fatty acids were not different in TG, CE and NEFA between GDM and non-diabetic mothers. However, in PL, levels of palmitate, palmitoleate, oleate, vaccinate and di-homo-gamma-linolenate were significantly lower, with a trend for lower arachidonate (p=0.078), in neonates born to GDM mothers compared to controls. ConclusionIn contrast to other studies on cord blood docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) levels in GDM mothers, we did not found lower levels of DHA in cord PL, CE, TG or NEFA in neonates born to GDM compared to non-diabetic mothers.

Maternal Blood Lipid Profile during Pregnancy and Associations with Child Adiposity: Findings from the ROLO Study.

BackgroundThe in-utero environment affects fetal development; it is vital to understand how maternal diet during pregnancy influences childhood body composition. While research indicates that triglycerides in hyperglycaemic women may increase birth weight, little is known about this relationship in euglycemic women. This study examines the relationship between maternal blood lipid status and infant adiposity up to 2 years of age.MethodsData from 331 mother-child pairs from the ROLO longitudinal birth cohort study was analysed. Maternal dietary intakes were recorded and fasting blood lipids, leptin and HOMA were measured in early and late pregnancy and cord blood. Infant anthropometric measurements and skin-fold thicknesses were recorded at birth, 6 months and 2 years. Correlation and regression analyses were used to explore associations between maternal blood lipid status and infant adiposity.ResultsAll maternal blood lipids increased significantly during pregnancy. Maternal dietary fat intake was positively associated with total cholesterol levels in early pregnancy. Late pregnancy triglycerides were positively associated with birth weight (P = 0.03) while cord blood triglycerides were negatively associated with birth weight (P = 0.01). Cord HDL-C was negatively associated with infant weight at 6 months (P = 0.005). No other maternal blood lipids were associated with infant weight or adiposity up to 2 years of age.ConclusionMaternal and fetal triglycerides were associated with birth weight and cord HDL-C with weight at 6 months. Thus, maternal lipid concentrations may exert in-utero influences on infant body composition. There may be potential to modulate infant body composition through alteration of maternal diet during pregnancy.

Effects of pregnancy induced hypertension on lipid metabolism and bilirubin metabolism in term neonates

Objective To observe the effects of pregnancy induced hypertension on lipid metabolism and bilirubin metabolism in term neonates. Methods 200 term neonates were selected and divided into the two groups,100 cases whose mother were healthy were control group and another 100 cases whose mother had gestational hypertension were observation group. Birth weight, measured in cord blood triglyceride(TG),total cholesterol(TC)levels, high density lipoprotein(HDL-C),low density lipoprotein(LDL-C), adiponectin(APN)level were recorded. Results Birth weight of the observation group had significantly lower birth weight(2 927±492)g,than the weight of the control group(3 452±348)g.The incidence of lower birth weight was higher than in the observation group.TG,LDL-C levels of the observation group were(0.6±0.24)mmol/L,(1.95±0.25)mmol/L,were higher than those of the control group[(0.39±0.17)mmol/L,(1.95±0.25)mmol/L].There was a statistically significant difference between the groups(t=12.35,2.35,P<0.01 or P<0.05).HL-C and APN of the observation group were lower than those of the control group(t=1.79,7.00,all P<0.05).Bilirubin after borned 24 hours,48 hours,72 hours and bilirubin peak of the observation group were(8.64±2.17)mg/L,(11.06±3.12)mg/L,(10.32±2.47)mg/L,(12.04±2.13)mg/L and were higher than those of the control group[(3.06±0.94)mg/L,(6.98±1.56)mg/L,(7.26±1.89)mg/L,(9.64±1.98)mg/L](t=23.48,11.65,9.84,8.27,all P<0.01). Conclusion Maternal PIH may affect birth weight, lipid metabolism and bilirubin metabolism. Key words: Pregnancy induced hypertension; Infant, newborn; Blood, Lipid; Bilirubin

The Relationship between Levels of Lipids and Lipoprotein B- 100 in Maternal Serum and Umbilical Cord Serum and Assessing Their Effects on Newborn Infants Anthropometric Indices

A R T I C L E I N F O A B S T R A C T Article type: Original article Background & aim: This study aimed to determine the relationship between lipid and apolipoprotein B-100 (apo B-100) levels in maternal and umbilical cord sera as well as the effects of these components on anthropometric measurements of newborn infants. Methods: This correlational study was performed on 85 appropriate for gestational age (AGA) newborns and their mothers. For analysis, 5 ml of maternal blood and 5 ml of umbilical venous cord blood were obtained during labor and immediately after delivery, respectively. Sera were separated by centrifugation and analyzed on the same day for estimation of lipid profile including total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and apolipoprotein B-100. Also, anthropometric indices of newborn infants were measured and recorded. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to determine the relationship between variables. Results: There was a positive correlation between maternal and neonatal serum TC levels (r=0.23, P=0.042). Maternal LDL-C level was positively correlated with neonatal HDL-C (r=0.24, P=0.035), TC (r=0.29, P=0.01), and apolipoprotein B-100 levels (r=0.25, P=0.031). A significant positive correlation was observed between maternal apolipoprotein B-100 level and neonatal TC (r=0.26, P=0.019), HDL-C (r=0.23, P=0.043), and apolipoprotein B-100 levels (r=0.24, P=0.038). Maternal TG level was positively correlated with neonatal crown-heel length (r=0.27, P=0.018) and birth weight (r=0.23, P=0.039). However, maternal HDL-C level was negatively correlated with neonatal birth weight (r=-0.29, P=0.01) and chest circumference (r=-0.27, P=0.019). A significant negative correlation was found between cord blood TG level and newborn’s head circumference (r=- 0.23 P=0.046). Conclusion: Maternal lipid profile can affect neonatal lipid level and anthropometric measurements.

Cord Blood Lipid Profile in Premature, Near-Term and Term Newborn Infants

Introduction: The fetus needs a considerable amount of cholesterol for the development of tissues and organs. Studies have suggested that genetic and environmental factors influence the composition of cord blood lipoproteins. In this study, we aim to assess the effect of gestational age, sex and birth weight on the cord blood lipoproteins. Methods: We collected umbilical cord blood samples from 91 newborn infants, delivered normally, or by caesarean section. According to their gestational age, the samples were divided into 3 groups: the premature (≤ 34 weeks of gestational age), the near-term (35 – 37 weeks of gestational age), and the term group (≥ 38 weeks of gestational age). Serum was used to measure cholesterol, triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) by the enzymatic auto-analyzer. SPSS 17 software was used for ANOVA test, Student t-test and Spearman correlation test. P-value less than 0.05 was regarded as significant. Results: The results of this study indicate that gender has no effect on the level of lipid in the samples; it doesn’t affect the subgroups, either. The serum level of cholesterol is inversely correlated with neonatal gestational age, and the neonatal body weight (P < 0.05). Only in the term subgroup, high positive correlation is observed between the triglyceride level and gestational age (P <0.05). All other subgroups show no significant correlation between the lipids and age or weight. Conclusion: The cord blood cholesterol, triglyceride and HDL are not affected by the gender of the newborns. Cholesterol level is inversely correlated with the gestational age and birth weight, and this could be regarded as a risk factor for atherogenic lipoprotein metabolism, later on in life.

Adaptations of placental and cord blood ABCA1 DNA methylation profile to maternal metabolic status

In utero environmental perturbations have been associated with epigenetic changes in the offspring and a lifelong susceptibility to cardiovascular diseases (CVD). DNA methylation at the ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) gene was previously associated with CVD, but whether these epigenetic marks respond to changes in the maternal environment is unknown. This study was undertaken to assess the associations between the maternal metabolic profile and ABCA1 DNA methylation levels in placenta and cord blood. Placenta and cord blood samples were obtained at delivery from 100 women including 26 with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) diagnosed following a 75 g-oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) between week 24 and 28 of gestation. ABCA1 DNA methylation and mRNA levels were measured using bisulfite pyrosequencing and quantitative real-time PCR, respectively. We report that ABCA1 DNA methylation levels on the maternal side of the placenta are correlated with maternal high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels (r < –0.21; P < 0.04) and glucose levels 2 h post-OGTT (r = 0.25; P = 0.02). On the fetal side of the placenta, ABCA1 DNA methylation levels are associated with cord blood triglyceride levels (r = –0.28; P = 0.01). ABCA1 DNA methylation variability on both sides of the placenta are also associated with ABCA1 mRNA levels (r < –0.35; P = 0.05). As opposed to placenta, cord blood DNA methylation levels are negatively correlated with maternal glucose 2 h post-OGTT (r = –0.26; P = 0.02). In conclusion, the epivariations observed in placenta and cord blood likely contribute to an optimal materno–fetal cholesterol transfer. These in utero epigenetics adaptations may also potentially trigger the long-term susceptibility of the newborn to dyslipidemia and CVD.