An Interplay between Obesity and Inflammation in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Title:An Interplay between Obesity and Inflammation in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Volume: 17 Issue: 7

Author(s): Katarzyna E. Skórzyńska-Dziduszko, Żaneta Kimber-Trojnar, Jolanta Patro-Małysza, Anna Olszewska, Tomasz Zaborowski and Teresa Małecka-Massalska

Affiliation:

Keywords: Cytokines, gestational diabetes mellitus, inflammation, insulin resistance, lipotoxicity, obesity.

Abstract: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is traditionally defined as hyperglycemia first detected in pregnancy. The risk of GDM is much higher among obese women than in their lean counterparts. An excess of adipose tissue leads to immune and inflammatory responses of both white adipose tissue and the placenta, contributing to systemic inflammation. Although the significance of both obesity and inflammation is relatively well characterized in GDM, the molecular mechanisms involved are not fully defined and require further study. In recent years huge progress has been made in identifying the intracellular signaling pathways involved in the pathophysiology of GDM. However, currently available data regarding inflammation and obesity in women with GDM are still conflicting or incomplete. We discuss selected aspects of the problem and propose future directions for research in the hope of achieving a better understanding of the disease. In particular, this review highlights recent studies exploring molecular alterations related to insulin resistance, inflammation of the adipose tissue and the placenta, lipotoxicity or endotoxemia.

Cite this article as:

E. Skórzyńska-Dziduszko Katarzyna, Kimber-Trojnar Żaneta, Patro-Małysza Jolanta, Olszewska Anna, Zaborowski Tomasz and Małecka-Massalska Teresa, An Interplay between Obesity and Inflammation in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology 2016; 17 (7) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1389201017666160127105926