International Journal of General Medicine (Jul 2021)
Altered Expression of Angiogenic Biomarkers in Pregnancy Associated with Gestational Diabetes
Abstract
Ebtisam Al-Ofi,1 Aziza Alrafiah,2 Salman Maidi,2 Safa Almaghrabi,1 Nora Hakami2 1Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, King AbdulAziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; 2Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King AbdulAziz University, Jeddah, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Aziza AlrafiahDepartment of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King AbdulAziz University, PO Box 80200, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi ArabiaTel +966 126401000 Ext. 23495Fax +966 126401000 Ext. 21686Email [email protected]: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) typically occurs during the third trimester of pregnancy. Maternal hyperglycemic may influence the expression of pro-and anti-angiogenic factors. Altered levels of angiogenic biomarkers in GDM pregnant women are associated with abnormal placentation. This study aimed to investigate the rates of expression of five angiogenic biomarkers called vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A), angiopoietin-2, endoglin, endothelin-1, and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) in GDM.Methods: The samples were obtained from normal (n=9) and GDM (n=10) pregnancies. Multiplex assay was used to assess the levels of angiogenic biomarkers including VEGF-A, endoglin, endothelin-1, angiopoietin-2, and G-CSF in serum samples. All data were statistically analyzed using an unpaired Student’s t-test. Correlations between measured parameters were made using Pearson correlations.Results: VEGF-A, endoglin, endothelin-1, and angiopoietin-2 levels in GDM were significantly higher (P value = 0.001, 0.042, 0.049, 0.001; respectively) compared to control. However, G-CSF level exhibited a non-significant increase (P=0.466) in GDM compared to healthy controls. There was a significant positive correlation between angiopoietin-2 with endoglin, endothelin-1, and VEGF-A. Moreover, there was a significant positive correlation between VEGF-A with endoglin and endothelin-1. Most interestingly, there was a significant positive correlation between G-CSF with endothelin-1.Conclusion: The angiogenic biomarkers were highly altered in pregnant women with GDM. The study provides a novel advance in the field of gestational diabetes, in terms of increase of angiogenic factors that can modify the vascularization of the placenta, the development of fetal vascular system and the insulin resistance itself.Keywords: gestational diabetes mellitus, vascular endothelial growth factor A, angiopoietins, endoglin, endothelin-1, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, pre-eclampsia
