Adiponectin in women with gestational diabetes: relationship with obesity

Abstract

Obesity is associated with gestational diabetes (GD). Adiponectin is involved in glycemic regulation and in the physiopathology of obesity. Adiponectin gene polymorphisms may influence the expression of this molecule. The aims of this study were to assess adiponectin +45 (rs2241766) and -11377 (rs266729) gene polymorphisms, adiponectin and adiponectin receptor 1 (ADIPOR1) levels in GD according to the patients' prepregnancy body mass index (BMI). We undertook a case-control study involving 45 GD patients and 81 healthy pregnant controls (C) grouped according to BMI (normal < 25 and obese (greater-than or equal to)25). Polymorphism genotyping was obtained by PCR-RFLP. Adiponectin serum levels were determined by ELISA and ADIPOR1 mRNA levels by RT-PCR. Data were analyzed by Mann-Whitney, Chi-square or Fisher tests. There were no associations between GD and analyzed gene polymorphisms. There was a significant association between adiponectin -11377 gene polymorphism and adiponectin levels in GD (p < 0.05). When both groups were analyzed, adiponectin serum levels were higher in C than in GD women (8280 ng/mL vs 5490 ng/mL, p(less-than or equal to)0.0001). Adiponectin serum levels were higher in normal weight versus obese women, both in the C (9030 ng/mL vs 7308 ng/mL, p = 0.01) and in GD (5988 ng/mL vs 4638 ng/mL, p = 0.03) groups, as well as in normal weight C versus normal weight GD (9030 ng/mL vs 5988 ng/mL, p = 0.02) and in obese C compared to obese GD women (7308 ng/mL vs 4638 ng/mL, p = 0.008). Regardless of BMI, ADIPOR1 mRNA levels did not differ between C and GD (p = 0.25). Together these data show that there was no association between GD and the gene polymorphisms analyzed. However, there was a significant association between adiponectin -11377 gene polymorphism and adiponectin levels in women with GD. These women have decreased adiponectin levels and obesity was associated with adiponectin serum levels. ADIPOR1 mRNA levels did not differ significantly in women with GD.