Decreased maternal and placental concentrations of follistatin-like 3 in gestational diabetes.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The objective of this study was to determine maternal and placental concentrations of follistatin-like 3 (FSTL3), and, maternal concentrations of myostatin in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

METHODS:

40 women with GDM of term pregnancy were recruited and 40 maternal age- and gestational age-matched normally pregnant women served as control. Maternal blood samples and placental tissues were collected. Maternal concentrations of FSTL3 and myostatin were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and, placental concentrations of FSTL3 by Western blotting.

RESULTS:

Women with GDM had significantly lower serum FSTL3 concentrations than controls (P=0.001). Placental concentrations of FSTL3 were significantly lower in GDM group than in controls (P<0.001). Women with GDM had significantly higher homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbAlc) than control women (P=0.042 and <0.01, respectively). Maternal serum myostatin was not significantly different between GDM and control groups (P=0.312).

CONCLUSIONS:

Maternal and placental FSTL3 concentrations were reduced in GDM women compared with normally pregnant women, suggesting FSTL3 may play an important role in the pathogenesis of gestational diabetes.

• Authors: Dongxiao Hu, Ting Tian, Jing Guo, Hanzhi Wang, Danqing Chen, Minyue Dong
• Journal: Clinica chimica acta; international journal of clinical chemistry (Clin Chim Acta) Vol. 413 Issue 5-6 Pg. 533-6 (Mar 22 2012) ISSN: 1873-3492 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 22122995 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Follistatin-Related Proteins

Topics

• Adult
• Case-Control Studies
• Diabetes, Gestational (blood, metabolism)
• Female
• Follistatin-Related Proteins (analysis, blood)
• Humans
• Placenta (metabolism)
• Pregnancy
• Pregnancy Complications (blood, metabolism)