Association of Tumor Growth Factor-β and Interferon-γ Serum Levels With Insulin Resistance in Normal Pregnancy

Abstract

Pregnancy is related to change in glucose metabolism and insulin production. The aim of our study was to determine the association of serum IFN-γ and TGF-β levels with insulin resistance during normal pregnancy. This cross sectional study was carried out on 97 healthy pregnant (in different trimesters) and 28 healthy non-pregnant women. Serum TGF-β and IFN-γ level were measured by ELISA method. Pregnant women had high level TGF-β and low level IFN-γ as compared non-pregnant women. Maternal serum TGF-β concentration significantly increased in third trimester as compared first and second trimester of pregnancy. Maternal serum IFN-γ concentration significantly decreased in third trimester as compared first and second trimester of pregnancy. Pregnant women exhibited higher score of HOMA IR as compared non-pregnant women. There were association between gestational age with body mass index (r=0.28, P=0.005), TGF-β (r=0.45, P<0.001) and IFN-γ (r=-0.50, P<0.001). There was significant association between Insulin resistance and TGF-β (r=0.17, p=0.05). Our findings suggest that changes in maternal cytokine level in healthy pregnant women were anti-inflammatory. Furthermore, Tumor Growth Factor-β appears has a role in induction insulin resistance in healthy pregnant women. However, further studies needed to evaluate role of different cytokines on insulin resistance in normal pregnancy.

Lactic Acid: A Novel Signaling Molecule in Early Pregnancy?

“…Furthermore, a decrease in IL-17A production was observed in decidual T cells compared to peripheral blood T cells (110). Pregnant women had high level TGF-β and low level IFN-γ as compared to non-pregnant women (111). Projecting from the effects of lactic acid on immune cells in the tumor microenvironment, lactic acid generated in the first trimester of pregnancy could play an important role in immune regulate functions, potentially by decreasing the cytotoxic activity of T cells and NK cells, promotes Th2-type and regulate the polarization of DM.…”

Influence of obesity and overweight on transforming growth factor beta 1 levels and other oxidative and cardiometabolic parameters

“…In fact, concomitantly with the increase in TGF-β1 in proportion to the increase in BMI, we observed a significant increase in insulin, glucose, HbA 1c and HOMA-IR levels and a significant decrease in IS, suggesting that this cytokine could play an important role in the development of IR in patients with excess weight. Previous studies have shown that TGF-β contributes to the development of IR in pregnant women [27][28][29] .…”