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The relationship between adipose tissue-derived hormones and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM)
open access
Abstract
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is defined as a glucose intolerance of varying severity with onset or first recognition during pregnancy. The prevalence of GDM is growing rapidly worldwide, resulting in numerous and serious complications for both mother and foetus. Two major metabolic disorders, insulin resistance and β cells dysfunction, are currently linked to the pathogenesis of GDM, although the cellular mechanisms involved in the development of GDM are not yet completely understood. Increasing evidence from clinical and experimental studies indicates that adipose tissue dysfunction, characterised by abnormal production of adipokines, is an essential factor linked to insulin resistance and GDM. To date, several adipose tissue-derived hormones have been identified, including leptin, adiponectin, resistin, visfatin, apelin, retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP-4), vaspin, and omentin. The relationship of leptin and adiponectin to insulin resistance in GDM is relatively well documented, but the molecular mechanisms by which these hormones affect insulin resistance are not yet fully known. The other aforementioned adipokines appear to be also important players in the pathophysiology of GDM, although their precise function in this complex process remains to be established. The aim of this article is to review the literature concerning the relationship between the above-mentioned adipokines and GDM, and to clarify their role in the pathophysiology of GDM. (Endokrynol Pol 2014; 65 (2): 134–142)
Abstract
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is defined as a glucose intolerance of varying severity with onset or first recognition during pregnancy. The prevalence of GDM is growing rapidly worldwide, resulting in numerous and serious complications for both mother and foetus. Two major metabolic disorders, insulin resistance and β cells dysfunction, are currently linked to the pathogenesis of GDM, although the cellular mechanisms involved in the development of GDM are not yet completely understood. Increasing evidence from clinical and experimental studies indicates that adipose tissue dysfunction, characterised by abnormal production of adipokines, is an essential factor linked to insulin resistance and GDM. To date, several adipose tissue-derived hormones have been identified, including leptin, adiponectin, resistin, visfatin, apelin, retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP-4), vaspin, and omentin. The relationship of leptin and adiponectin to insulin resistance in GDM is relatively well documented, but the molecular mechanisms by which these hormones affect insulin resistance are not yet fully known. The other aforementioned adipokines appear to be also important players in the pathophysiology of GDM, although their precise function in this complex process remains to be established. The aim of this article is to review the literature concerning the relationship between the above-mentioned adipokines and GDM, and to clarify their role in the pathophysiology of GDM. (Endokrynol Pol 2014; 65 (2): 134–142)
Keywords
adipokines; adiponectin; gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM); leptin; omentin; RBP-4; resistin; vaspin; visfatin


Title
The relationship between adipose tissue-derived hormones and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM)
Journal
Issue
Article type
Review paper
Pages
134-142
Published online
2014-05-06
Page views
5810
Article views/downloads
11969
DOI
10.5603/EP.2014.0019
Bibliographic record
Endokrynol Pol 2014;65(2):134-142.
Keywords
adipokines
adiponectin
gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM)
leptin
omentin
RBP-4
resistin
vaspin
visfatin
Authors
Marzena Wójcik
Małgorzata Chmielewska-Kassassir
Karolina Grzywnowicz
Lucyna Woźniak
Katarzyna Cypryk