Low-Grade Metabolically-Induced Inflammation Mediators Interleukin-6, Adiponectin, and TNF-α Serum Levels in Obese Pregnant Patients in the Perinatal Period

Abstract

BackgroundObesity is a major clinical problem. The number of obese pregnant women is rising rapidly. The consequences of obesity are significant and affect every aspect of perinatal care for both the mother and the developing fetus. Adipose tissue may be responsible for chronic subclinical inflammation in obesity, being a source of inflammatory mediators. The study was designed to evaluate the analysis of the serum concentration of inflammatory mediators, including interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and adiponectin, in obese pregnant women at full-term pregnancies.Material/MethodsThe study included 40 women with body mass index (BMI) less than 30 and 24 pregnant women with BMI equal to or greater than 30, admitted to the Perinatology and Obstetrics Department of the University Hospital in Cracow in the first stage of labor. Blood samples were taken from patients to detect the serum concentration of cytokines. Ultrasound was used to evaluate the development of the fetus, including estimated fetal weight, Doppler flows, and the amount of amniotic fluid. We also included the history of chronic diseases and other complications of the pregnancy. A p-value <0.05 was considered significant.ResultsThe level of adiponectin in obese patients as compared to controls was significantly lower. There was no statistically significant difference in either group when TNF-α and IL-6 were measured. The results of the survey are consistent with previous reports.ConclusionsThe exact role of inflammation in pregnancy is not well understood. Determining the exact functions of the different cytokines in physiological pregnancy and pregnancy complicated by obesity requires further study.

Adipose tissue function in healthy pregnancy, gestational diabetes mellitus and pre-eclampsia

“…There were higher levels of leptin in maternal obesity compared to lean pregnant women which contributed to leptin resistance [ 35 ]. Circulating levels of adiponectin were significantly lower in obese compared to lean pregnant women [ 31 ], however this was not associated with increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines [ 32 , 36 ]. Hypoadiponectinemia in late obese pregnancy was attributable to reduced expression and methylation of the adiponectin gene [ 37 ].…”

Significance of Inflammation Markers Determined in Pregnant Women With Anemic Syndrome and Obesity

“…Аналогичные корреляционные связи между концентрацией IL-6, С-реактивного белка и гепсидина были выявлены и в нашем исследовании у беременных. В научных работах, раскрывающих механизмы нарушения метаболизма железа при ожирении, сообщается о значимой роли в данном процессе лептина и адипонектина [7,10,18], активации JAK2/STAT3-и BMPпути [6,13]. Дискутируется вопрос о влиянии IL-1 и TNFα на продукцию гепсидина и о их роли в развитии АХЗ [14,15,16].…”

Maternal obesity and developmental programming of neuropsychiatric disorders: An inflammatory hypothesis

“…Interestingly, levels of CRP closely correlated with gestational weight gain, suggesting a dose–response relationship, unlike IL-6 or TNF-α ( Hrolfsdottir et al, 2016 ). The association of TNF-α with maternal obesity is least supported with many studies finding no correlation ( Sen et al, 2014 ; Zembala-Szczerba et al, 2017 ). These findings highlight the complexity of the inflammatory state when obesity and pregnancy interact and point towards some level of immune dysregulation during maternal obesity.…”