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Ning J, Huai J, Wang S, Yan J, Su R, Zhang M, Liu M, Yang H. METTL3 regulates glucose transporter expression in placenta exposed to hyperglycemia through the mTOR signaling pathway. Chin Med J (Engl) 2024; 137:1563-1575. [PMID: 37963715 PMCID: PMC11230790 DOI: 10.1097/cm9.0000000000002840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alterations in the placental expression of glucose transporters (GLUTs), the crucial maternal-fetal nutrient transporters, have been found in women with hyperglycemia in pregnancy (HIP). However, there is still uncertainty about the underlying effect of the high-glucose environment on placental GLUTs expression in HIP. METHODS We quantitatively evaluated the activity of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and expression of GLUTs (GLUT1, GLUT3, and GLUT4) in the placenta of women with normal pregnancies (CTRL, n = 12) and pregnant women complicated with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM, n = 12) by immunohistochemistry. In addition, BeWo cells were treated with different glucose concentrations to verify the regulation of hyperglycemia. Then, changes in the expression of GLUTs following the activation or suppression of the mTOR pathway were also assessed using MHY1485/rapamycin (RAPA) treatment or small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated silencing approaches. Moreover, we further explored the alteration and potential upstream regulatory role of methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3) when exposed to hyperglycemia. RESULTS mTOR, phosphorylated mTOR (p-mTOR), and GLUT1 protein levels were upregulated in the placenta of women with T2DM compared with those CTRL. In BeWo cells, mTOR activity increased with increasing glucose concentration, and the expression of GLUT1, GLUT3, and GLUT4 as well as GLUT1 cell membrane translocation were upregulated by hyperglycemia to varying degrees. Both the drug-mediated and genetic depletion of mTOR signaling in BeWo cells suppressed GLUTs expression, whereas MHY1485-induced mTOR activation upregulated GLUTs expression. Additionally, high glucose levels upregulated METTL3 expression and nuclear translocation, and decreasing METTL3 levels suppressed GLUTs expression and mTOR activity and vice versa . Furthermore, in METTL3 knockdown BeWo cells, the inhibitory effect on GLUTs expression was eliminated by activating the mTOR signaling pathway using MHY1485. CONCLUSION High-glucose environment-induced upregulation of METTL3 in trophoblasts regulates the expression of GLUTs through mTOR signaling, contributing to disordered nutrient transport in women with HIP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Ning
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Maternal Foetal Medicine of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, Beijing 100034, China
- Peking University, Beijing 100034, China
| | - Jing Huai
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Maternal Foetal Medicine of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, Beijing 100034, China
- Peking University, Beijing 100034, China
| | - Shuxian Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Maternal Foetal Medicine of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, Beijing 100034, China
- Peking University, Beijing 100034, China
| | - Jie Yan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Maternal Foetal Medicine of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, Beijing 100034, China
| | - Rina Su
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Maternal Foetal Medicine of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, Beijing 100034, China
| | - Muqiu Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Maternal Foetal Medicine of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, Beijing 100034, China
- Peking University, Beijing 100034, China
| | - Mengtong Liu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Maternal Foetal Medicine of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, Beijing 100034, China
- Peking University, Beijing 100034, China
| | - Huixia Yang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Maternal Foetal Medicine of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, Beijing 100034, China
- Peking University, Beijing 100034, China
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Sibiak R, Ozegowska K, Wender-Ozegowska E, Gutaj P, Mozdziak P, Kempisty B. Fetomaternal Expression of Glucose Transporters (GLUTs)-Biochemical, Cellular and Clinical Aspects. Nutrients 2022; 14:2025. [PMID: 35631166 PMCID: PMC9146575 DOI: 10.3390/nu14102025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Revised: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Several types of specialized glucose transporters (GLUTs) provide constant glucose transport from the maternal circulation to the developing fetus through the placental barrier from the early stages of pregnancy. GLUT1 is a prominent protein isoform that regulates placental glucose transfer via glucose-facilitated diffusion. The GLUT1 membrane protein density and permeability of the syncytial basal membrane (BM) are the main factors limiting the rate of glucose diffusion in the fetomaternal compartment in physiological conditions. Besides GLUT1, the GLUT3 and GLUT4 isoforms are widely expressed across the human placenta. Numerous medical conditions and molecules, such as hormones, adipokines, and xenobiotics, alter the GLUT's mRNA and protein expression. Diabetes upregulates the BM GLUT's density and promotes fetomaternal glucose transport, leading to excessive fetal growth. However, most studies have found no between-group differences in GLUTs' placental expression in macrosomic and normal control pregnancies. The fetomaternal GLUTs expression may also be influenced by several other conditions, such as chronic hypoxia, preeclampsia, and intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafal Sibiak
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-701 Poznan, Poland;
- Doctoral School, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-701 Poznan, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Ozegowska
- Department of Infertility and Reproductive Endocrinology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 61-701 Poznan, Poland;
| | - Ewa Wender-Ozegowska
- Department of Reproduction, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 61-701 Poznan, Poland; (E.W.-O.); (P.G.)
| | - Pawel Gutaj
- Department of Reproduction, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 61-701 Poznan, Poland; (E.W.-O.); (P.G.)
| | - Paul Mozdziak
- Prestage Department of Poultry Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA;
| | - Bartosz Kempisty
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-701 Poznan, Poland;
- Prestage Department of Poultry Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA;
- Department of Anatomy, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-701 Poznan, Poland
- Department of Veterinary Surgery, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, 87-100 Torun, Poland
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Du R, Wu N, Bai Y, Tang L, Li L. circMAP3K4 regulates insulin resistance in trophoblast cells during gestational diabetes mellitus by modulating the miR-6795-5p/PTPN1 axis. J Transl Med 2022; 20:180. [PMID: 35449053 PMCID: PMC9022258 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-022-03386-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2022] [Accepted: 04/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Insulin resistance (IR) during gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has been linked to dysregulated insulin-PI3K/Akt pathway. A defective insulin-PI3K/Akt pathway and dysregulated circular RNA (circRNA) levels have been observed in the placentas of patients with GDM; however, the mechanisms underlying this association remain unclear. Methods circRNAs potentially associated with GDM were selected through bioinformatics analysis and initially identified by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) in 9 GDM patients and 9 healthy controls, of which circMAP3K4 was further validated in additional 84 samples by qPCR. circMAP3K4 identity and localization were verified. Pearson correlation analysis was applied to evaluate the correlation between circMAP3K4 expression in the placental tissues of GDM patients and IR-related indicators. An IR model of trophoblasts was constructed using glucosamine. Interactions between miR-6795-5p and circMAP3K4 or PTPN1 were confirmed using a dual-luciferase reporter assay. The circMAP3K4/miR-6795-5p/PTPN1 axis and key markers in the insulin-PI3K/Akt pathway in placentas and trophoblasts were evaluated through qRT-PCR, immunofluorescence, and western blotting. The role of circMAP3K4 in glucose metabolism and cell growth in trophoblasts was determined using the glucose uptake and CCK8 assay, respectively. Results circMAP3K4 was highly expressed in the placentas of patients with GDM and the IR trophoblast model; this was associated with a dysregulated insulin-PI3K/Akt pathway. circMAP3K4 in the placentas of GDM patients was positively correlated with weight gain during pregnancy and time-glucose area under the curve of OGTT. circMAP3K4 and PTPN1 could both bind to miR-6795-5p. miR-6795-5p and PTPN1 were downregulated and upregulated, respectively, in the placentas of GDM patients and the IR trophoblast model. circMAP3K4 silencing or miR-6795-5p overexpression partially reversed the decrease in glucose uptake, inhibition in cell growth, and downregulated IRS1 and Akt phosphorylation in IR-trophoblasts; this restoration was reversed upon co-transfection with an miR-6795-5p inhibitor or PTPN1. Conclusion circMAP3K4 could suppress the insulin-PI3K/Akt signaling pathway via miR-6795-5p/PTPN1 axis, probably contributing to GDM-related IR. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12967-022-03386-8.
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Affiliation(s)
- Runyu Du
- Department of Endocrinology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Na Wu
- Department of Endocrinology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yu Bai
- Department of Endocrinology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Lei Tang
- Department of Endocrinology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Ling Li
- Department of Endocrinology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
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Hung TH, Wu CP, Chen SF. Differential Changes in Akt and AMPK Phosphorylation Regulating mTOR Activity in the Placentas of Pregnancies Complicated by Fetal Growth Restriction and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus With Large-For-Gestational Age Infants. Front Med (Lausanne) 2021; 8:788969. [PMID: 34938752 PMCID: PMC8685227 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2021.788969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Dysregulation of placental mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) activity has been implicated in the pathophysiology of pregnancies complicated by idiopathic fetal growth restriction (FGR) and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) with large-for-gestational-age (LGA) infants. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Methods: We obtained placentas from women with normal pregnancies (n = 11) and pregnancies complicated by FGR (n = 12) or GDM with LGA infants (n = 12) to compare the levels of total and phosphorylated forms of Akt, AMPK, TSC2, and mTOR among the three groups and used primary cytotrophoblast cells isolated from 30 normal term placentas to study the effects of oxygen–glucose deprivation (OGD) and increasing glucose concentrations on the changes of these factors in vitro. Results: Placentas from FGR pregnancies had lower phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt) levels (P < 0.05), higher p-AMPKα levels (P < 0.01), and lower mTOR phosphorylation (P < 0.05) compared to that of normal pregnant women. Conversely, women with GDM and LGA infants had higher p-Akt (P < 0.001), lower p-AMPKα (P < 0.05), and higher p-mTOR levels (P < 0.05) in the placentas than normal pregnant women. Furthermore, primary cytotrophoblast cells subjected to OGD had lower p-Akt and p-mTOR (both P < 0.05) and higher p-AMPKα levels (P < 0.05) than those cultured under standard conditions, but increasing glucose concentrations had opposite effects on the respective levels. Administering compound C, an AMPK inhibitor, did not significantly affect Akt phosphorylation but partially reversed mTOR phosphorylation. Administering LY294002, an Akt inhibitor, decreased p-mTOR levels, but did not change the levels of total and phosphorylated AMPKα. Conclusion: These results suggest that Akt and AMPK are involved in the regulation of trophoblast mTOR activity in the placentas of pregnancies complicated by FGR and GDM with LGA infants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tai-Ho Hung
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taipei Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keelung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung, Taiwan.,Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Chung-Pu Wu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taipei Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.,Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology and Molecular Medicine Research Center, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Szu-Fu Chen
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Cheng Hsin General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
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Dong J, Shin N, Chen S, Lei J, Burd I, Wang X. Is there a definite relationship between placental mTOR signaling and fetal growth? Biol Reprod 2020; 103:471-486. [PMID: 32401303 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioaa070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2020] [Revised: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 05/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Fetal growth restriction and overgrowth are common obstetrical complications that result in adverse perinatal outcomes and long-term health risks later in life, including neurodevelopmental dysfunction and adult metabolic syndrome. The placenta plays a critical role in the nutrition transfer from mother to fetus and even exerts adaptive mechanism when the fetus is under poor developmental conditions. The mammalian/mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling serves as a critical hub of cell growth, survival, and metabolism in response to nutrients, growth factors, energy, and stress signals. Placental mTOR signaling regulates placental function, including oxygen and nutrient transport. Therefore, placental mTOR signaling is hypothesized to have a positive relationship with fetal growth. In this review, we summarize that most studies support the current evidence that there is connection between placental mTOR signaling and abnormal fetal growth; however, but more studies should be performed following a vigorous and unanimous method for assessment to determine placental mTOR activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Dong
- Reproductive Medical Center, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Na Shin
- Integrated Research Center for Fetal Medicine, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Shuqiang Chen
- Reproductive Medical Center, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Jun Lei
- Integrated Research Center for Fetal Medicine, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Irina Burd
- Integrated Research Center for Fetal Medicine, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Xiaohong Wang
- Reproductive Medical Center, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China
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Zhang B, Wang C, Yang W, Zhang H, Meng Q, Shi B, Shan A. Transcriptome analysis of the effect of pyrroloquinoline quinone disodium (PQQ·Na 2) on reproductive performance in sows during gestation and lactation. J Anim Sci Biotechnol 2019; 10:62. [PMID: 31406573 PMCID: PMC6685232 DOI: 10.1186/s40104-019-0369-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2019] [Accepted: 06/05/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ), which is a water soluble, thermo-stable triglyceride-quinone, is widely distributed in nature and characterized as a mammalian vitamin-like redox cofactor. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of pyrroloquinoline quinone disodium (PQQ·Na2) on reproductive performance in sows. Results Dietary supplementation with PQQ·Na2 significantly increased the total number of piglets born, the number of piglets born alive and the born alive litter weight. It also increased the antioxidant status in the placenta, plasma and milk. The concentration of NO was significantly increased in the plasma and placenta. RNA-seq analysis showed that 462 unigenes were differentially expressed between the control (Con) treatment and PQQ treatment groups. Among these unigenes, 199 were upregulated, while 263 unigenes were downregulated. The assigned functions of the unigenes covered a broad range of GO categories. Reproduction (27, 7.03%) and the reproduction process (27, 7.03%) were assigned to the biological process category. By matching DEGs to the KEGG database, we identified 29 pathways. Conclusions In conclusion, dietary supplementation with PQQ·Na2 in gestating and lactating sows had positive effects on their reproductive performance. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s40104-019-0369-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boru Zhang
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, 150030 People's Republic of China
| | - Chenxi Wang
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, 150030 People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Yang
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, 150030 People's Republic of China
| | - Hongyun Zhang
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, 150030 People's Republic of China
| | - Qingwei Meng
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, 150030 People's Republic of China
| | - Baoming Shi
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, 150030 People's Republic of China
| | - Anshan Shan
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, 150030 People's Republic of China
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Zhang W, Su R, Feng H, Lin L, Wang C, Yang H. Transgenerational Obesity and Alteration of ARHGEF11 in the Rat Liver Induced by Intrauterine Hyperglycemia. J Diabetes Res 2019; 2019:6320839. [PMID: 31612150 PMCID: PMC6757444 DOI: 10.1155/2019/6320839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2019] [Revised: 05/23/2019] [Accepted: 08/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
It is understood that intrauterine hyperglycemia increases the risk of obesity and diabetes in offspring of consecutive generations but its mechanisms remain obscure. This study is aimed at establishing an intrauterine hyperglycemia rat model to investigate the growth and glycolipid metabolic characteristics in transgenerational offspring and discuss the effects of Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factor 11 (ARHGEF11) and the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in offspring development. The severe intrauterine hyperglycemia rat model was caused by STZ injection before mating, while offspring development and glycolipid metabolism were observed for the following two generations. The expression of ARHGEF11, ROCK1, PI3K, and AKT was tested in the liver and muscle tissue of F2 offspring. The results showed severe growth restriction in F1 offspring and obesity, fatty liver, and insulin resistance in female F2 offspring, especially the offspring of female intrauterine hyperglycemia-exposed parents (F2G♀C♂) and both (F2G♀G♂). The expression of ARHGEF11 and ROCK1 was significantly elevated; PI3K and phosphorylation of AKT were significantly decreased in liver tissues of F2G♀C♂ and F2G♀G♂. Our study revealed that intrauterine hyperglycemia could cause obesity and abnormal glycolipid metabolism in female transgenerational offspring; the programming effect of the intrauterine environment could cause a more obvious phenotype in the maternal line. Further exploration suggested that increased expression of ARHGEF11 and ROCK1 and the decreased expression of PI3K and phosphorylation of AKT in the liver could be responsible for the abnormal development in F2 offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanyi Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, Beijing, China
| | - Rina Su
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, Beijing, China
| | - Hui Feng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, Beijing, China
| | - Li Lin
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, Beijing, China
| | - Chen Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, Beijing, China
| | - Huixia Yang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, Beijing, China
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