IL-6 Polymorphism as a Predisposing Genetic Factor for Gestational Diabetes or Preeclampsia Development in Pregnancy with Obesity in Relation to VEGF and VEGFF Receptor Gene Expression Modalities
Panagiotis Halvatsiotis,
Theodora Tsokaki,
Vasileios Tsitsis,
Lina Palaiodimou,
Georgios Tsivgoulis,
Iraklis Tsangaris,
Maria Ourania Panagiotou,
Dimitra Houhoula
Affiliations
Panagiotis Halvatsiotis
2nd Department of Propaedeutic Internal Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, University General Hospital “Attikon”, 124 62 Athens, Greece
Theodora Tsokaki
2nd Department of Propaedeutic Internal Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, University General Hospital “Attikon”, 124 62 Athens, Greece
Vasileios Tsitsis
Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, General Hospital of Pyrgos, 271 00 Pyrgos, Greece
Lina Palaiodimou
2nd Department of Neurology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, University General Hospital “Attikon”, 124 62 Athens, Greece
Georgios Tsivgoulis
2nd Department of Neurology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, University General Hospital “Attikon”, 124 62 Athens, Greece
Iraklis Tsangaris
2nd Department of Critical Care, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, University General Hospital “Attikon”, 124 62 Athens, Greece
Maria Ourania Panagiotou
2nd Department of Propaedeutic Internal Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, University General Hospital “Attikon”, 124 62 Athens, Greece
Dimitra Houhoula
Department of Food Science and Technology, University of West Attica, 122 43 Athens, Greece
The increased prevalence of obesity worldwide has been implicated in the alarming rise of the incidence of gestational diabetes and preeclampsia, which are both considered threatening conditions for both mother and fetus. We studied gene polymorphisms of the proinflammatory cytokine Interleukin 6 (IL-6) and the gene expression levels of VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) and VEGF-R (endothelial growth factor receptor), all known to be involved in pregnancy complications, aiming to identify possible predisposing risk factors in pregnancies with obesity. The G allele of IL-6 was found to correspond with an increased risk for gestational diabetes and preeclampsia occurrence. Furthermore, in obese pregnant mothers with either gestational diabetes or pre-existing type 2 diabetes and those who developed preeclampsia, it was confirmed that gene expression levels of VEGF were reduced while they were increased for VEGF receptors. We conclude that the genetic profile of an obese pregnant woman shares a common background with that of a patient with pre-existing type 2 diabetes mellitus, and therefore predisposes them to complications in pregnancy.
