Volume 29, Issue 3
DOI: 10.24205/03276716.2020.745
Association of abnormal Pref-1 level with gestational diabetes mellitus
Abstract
Objective: To analyze the abnormalities of Pref-1 levels in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and fetuses, and to explore the molecular mechanism.
Methods: Fifty normal pregnant women and another 50 women with GDM were selected. Their biochemical indices, including serum insulin, fasting blood glucose, postprandial 2 h blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, C-reactive protein (CRP), triglyceride, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein and low-density lipoprotein levels, were detected. Serum Pref-1 and FN levels were measured by ELISA. Serum FAS, IL-6, Sox9 and ERK1 expressions were detected by RT-PCR. The correlations of FAS expression with IL-6 expression and insulin resistance index of GDM patients were subjected to logistic regression analysis.
Results: The two groups had significantly different levels of insulin, fasting blood glucose, postprandial 2 h blood glucose and CRP (P<0.05). The serum Pref-1 levels of observation and control groups were (1.22 ± 0.49) μg/L and (1.75 ± 0.58) μg/L respectively, with a significant difference (P<0.05). The two groups had similar FN expression levels (P>0.05). The serum expression levels of FAS and IL-6 in the observation group were significantly higher than those of the control group (P<0.05). The expression levels of Sox9 and ERK1 in the observation group were significantly lower than those of the control group (P<0.05). Pref-1 level was negatively correlated with FAS and IL-6 expressions, whereas positively correlated with Sox9 and ERK1 expression (P<0.05). Rank sum analysis revealed that FAS expression was positively correlated with IL-6 expression and insulin resistance index in GDM patients.
Conclusion: Abnormal Pref-1 level was closely related to the onset and progression of GDM. It may not be able to bind FN after expression reduction, thereby inhibiting the ERK/MAPK signaling pathway, resulting in excessive secretion of adipocytes, forming an inflammatory environment, causing insulin resistance and finally participating in the onset and progression of GDM.
Keywords
pregnant diabetes mellitus, Pref-1, ERK/MAPK signaling pathway, insulin resistance.