<b><i>Introduction and Objective:</i></b> The weight gained during pregnancy could determine the immediate and future health of the mother-child dyad. Excessive gestational weight gain (EGWG) due to abnormal adipose tissue (AT) accumulation is strongly associated with adverse perinatal outcomes as gestational diabetes, macrosomia, obesity, and hypertension further in life. Dysregulation of adipokine, AT dysfunction, and an imbalance in the prooxidant-antioxidant systems are critical features in altered AT accumulation. This study was aimed to investigate the association between adipokines and oxidative stress markers in pregnant women and the influence of the GWG on this association. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Maternal blood samples were obtained in the third trimester of pregnancy (<i>n</i> = 74) and serum adipokines (adiponectin, leptin, and resistin), oxidative damage markers: 8-oxo-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodG), lipohydroperoxides (LOOH), malondialdehyde (MDA), and carbonylated proteins (CP), and glucose a metabolic marker were measured. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Women with EGWG had low adiponectin levels than women with adequate weight gain (AWG) or insufficient weight gain (IWG). Multiple linear regression models revealed a positive association between adiponectin and 8-oxodG in women with AWG (<i>B</i> = 1.09, 95% CI: 164–222, <i>p</i> = 0.027) and IWG (<i>B</i> = 0.860, 95% CI: 0.199–1.52, <i>p</i> = 0.013) but not in women with EGWG. In women with EGWG, leptin was positively associated with LOOH (<i>p</i> = 0.018), MDA (<i>p</i> = 0.005), and CP (<i>p</i> = 0.010) oxidative markers. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Our findings suggest that concurrent mechanisms regulate adipokine production and oxidative stress in pregnant women and that this regulation is influenced by GWG, probably due to an excessive AT accumulation.

The nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) is a transcription factor that plays a critical role in the xenobiotic and stress responses. During viral infection, NRF2 can modulate the host metabolism and innate immunity; however, the most common activity of NRF2 in viral diseases is controlling reactive oxygen species (ROS). The Zika virus (ZIKV) is involved in a vertical infection in pregnancy, with reported fetal health consequences. However, the possibility that ZIKV regulates NRF2 expression in placental trophoblasts has not been investigated. In this report, we evaluated the upregulation of NRF2 and antioxidant enzymes in a trophoblast-like cell. These findings could help us understand the antioxidant mechanism underlying the ZIKV infection in the placenta during pregnancy.

The nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) is a transcription factor that plays a critical role in the xenobiotic and stress responses. During viral infection, NRF2 can modulate the host metabolism and innate immunity; however, the most common activity of NRF2 in viral diseases is controlling reactive oxygen species (ROS). The Zika virus (ZIKV) is involved in a vertical infection in pregnancy, with reported fetal health consequences. However, the possibility that ZIKV regulates NRF2 expression in placental trophoblasts has not been investigated. In this report, we evaluated the upregulation of NRF2 and antioxidant enzymes in a trophoblast-like cell. These ndings could help us understand the antioxidant mechanism underlying the ZIKV infection in the placenta during pregnancy.