KCNJ11 and KCNQ1 Gene Polymorphisms and Placental Expression in Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) represents carbohydrate intolerance in pregnant women. The pathogenesis of GDM is very complex, but abnormalities in insulin production and secretion underlie the disease. Potassium channels play an important role in insulin production and secretion. The family of potassium channels includes (among others) the potassium inwardly rectifying channel, subfamily J, member 11 (KCNJ11) and voltage-gated K+ channel (KCNQ1). The aim of the study was to examine the distribution of the KCNJ11 rs5219 and KCNQ1 rs151290 and rs2237892 gene polymorphisms in women with GDM and pregnant women with normal carbohydrate tolerance, to verify whether these polymorphisms are risk factors for GDM. This study included 204 Caucasian pregnant women with GDM and 207 pregnant women with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) from the West Pomeranian region of Poland. The diagnosis of GDM was based on a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) at 24-28 weeks gestation. There were no statistically significant differences in distribution of the KCNJ11 rs5219 and KCNQ1 rs151290 and rs2237892 gene polymorphisms between women with GDM and pregnant women with normal carbohydrate tolerance. Moreover, there were no statistically significant associations between the studied genotypes and the selected clinical parameters in women with GDM. The results of our study suggest that the KCNJ11 rs5219 and KCNQ1 rs2237892 and rs151290 gene polymorphisms are not significant risk factors associated with the development of GDM in our population. There were also no differences in the expression of KCNJ11 and KCNQ1 genes in the placenta of women with GDM and normal carbohydrate tolerance. However, an association between KCNJ11 gene expression in placenta and APGAR score in newborns was found.

IL-1ß and IL-10 gene polymorphisms in women with gestational diabetes.

AIMS: Gestational diabetes (GDM) is carbohydrate intolerance occurring in pregnant women. In the GDM pathogenesis, the low-grade inflammation plays a significant role. Various inflammatory mediators are considered to be risk factors leading to GDM development including cytokines. Studies suggest that some cytokines such as: IL-1ß and IL-10 play an important role in GDM pathogenesis. The aim of the study was to examine the associations between IL-1ß rs16944, and IL-10 rs1800872 gene polymorphisms and GDM. METHODS: This study included 204 pregnant women with GDM and 207 pregnant women with normal glucose tolerance. The diagnosis of GDM was based on a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test administered at 24-28 weeks' gestation. Among the pregnant women with GDM, 152 (75%) were treated with diet control alone throughout the pregnancy, whereas the remaining 52 (25%) were treated with diet control and insulin until delivery. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in the distribution of IL-1ß rs16944 and IL-10 rs1800872 between GDM and healthy women. However among women treated with insulin, we observed the increased frequency of IL-1ß rs16944 AA genotype carriers. Additionally, we observed increased daily insulin requirement in women with IL-1ß rs16944 AA genotype. Moreover, women with IL-10 rs1800872 AA genotype had higher body mass and BMI before pregnancy as well as higher body mass and BMI increase during pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study suggest the association between IL-1ß rs16944 AA genotype and increased frequency of the need of insulin treatment as well as increased daily insulin requirement.

Effect of FTO and IGF2BP2 gene polymorphisms on duration of pregnancy and Apgar scores in women with gestational diabetes.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a metabolic disorder occurring in pregnant women. The main risk factors include advanced age and obesity. FTO and IGF2BP2 are the genetic loci associated with an increased risk of diabetes type 2 as well as being involved in lipid and carbohydrate metabolism. The aim of this study was to examine the association of FTO rs8050136, IGF2BP2 rs4402960 and rs11705701 gene polymorphisms with GDM risk as well as with clinical parameters of women with GDM and their newborns. This study included 204 pregnant women with GDM and 207 pregnant women with normal glucose tolerance. The diagnosis of GDM was based on a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test administered at 24-28 weeks of gestation. There were no statistically significant differences in the distribution of the FTO rs8050136 and IGF2BP2 rs4402960 and rs11705701 genotypes between women with GDM and normoglycemic women. In the women with the IGF2BP2 rs4402960 TT and rs11705701 AA genotypes, we observed a longer gestation and higher Apgar scores than in the women with other genotypes. The results of this study suggest that FTO rs8050136 and IGF2BP2 rs4402960 and rs11705701 gene polymorphisms are not associated with the risk of GDM in our population, whereas IGF2BP2 rs4402960 and rs11705701 genotype status may affect the length of gestation and the Apgar scores of newborns. IMPACT STATEMENT What is already known on this subject? Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is the glucose intolerance detected during pregnancy. The main risk factors include an advanced age and obesity. FTO and IGF2BP2 are the genetic loci associated with an increased risk of diabetes type 2, as well as being involved in lipid and carbohydrate metabolism. What do the results of this study add? In this study, we examined the association between FTO and IGF2BP2 gene polymorphisms and GDM. There were no statistically significant differences in the distribution of these genotypes between healthy women and women with GDM. However, we observed a longer duration of pregnancy and higher Apgar scores in women with IGF2BP2 rs4402960 TT and rs11705701 AA genotypes. What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Although the FTO rs8050136 and IGF2BP2 rs4402960 and rs11705701 gene polymorphisms are not associated with the risk of GDM in our population, further studies of these genes may allow for better neonatal care and prediction of wellbeing of newborns.