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Bolte E, Dean T, Garcia B, Seferovic MD, Sauter K, Hummel G, Bucher M, Li F, Hicks J, Qin X, Suter MA, Barrozo ER, Jochum M, Shope C, Friedman JE, Gannon M, Wesolowski SR, McCurdy CE, Kievit P, Aagaard KM. Initiation of metformin in early pregnancy results in fetal bioaccumulation, growth restriction, and renal dysmorphology in a primate model. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2024:S0002-9378(24)00666-5. [PMID: 38871238 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2024.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 05/27/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In recent years, pragmatic metformin use in pregnancy has stretched to include prediabetes mellitus, type 2 diabetes mellitus, gestational diabetes mellitus, and (most recently) preeclampsia. However, with its expanded use, concerns of unintended harm have been raised. OBJECTIVE This study developed an experimental primate model and applied ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography coupled to triple-quadrupole mass spectrometry for direct quantitation of maternal and fetal tissue metformin levels with detailed fetal biometry and histopathology. STUDY DESIGN Within 30 days of confirmed conception (defined as early pregnancy), 13 time-bred (timed-mated breeding) Rhesus dams with pregnancies designated for fetal necropsy were initiated on twice-daily human dose-equivalent 10 mg/kg metformin or vehicle control. Pregnant dams were maintained as pairs and fed either a control chow or 36% fat Western-style diet. Metformin or placebo vehicle control was delivered in various treats while the animals were separated via a slide. A cesarean delivery was performed at gestational day 145, and amniotic fluid and blood were collected, and the fetus and placenta were delivered. The fetus was immediately necropsied by trained primate center personnel. All fetal organs were dissected, measured, sectioned, and processed per clinical standards. Fluid and tissue metformin levels were assayed using validated ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography coupled to triple-quadrupole mass spectrometry in selected reaction monitoring against standard curves. RESULTS Among 13 pregnancies at gestational day 145 with fetal necropsy, 1 dam and its fetal tissues had detectable metformin levels despite being allocated to the vehicle control group (>1 μmol metformin/kg maternal weight or fetal or placental tissue), whereas a second fetus allocated to the vehicle control group had severe fetal growth restriction (birthweight of 248.32 g [<1%]) and was suspected of having a fetal congenital condition. After excluding these 2 fetal pregnancies from further analyses, 11 fetuses from dams initiated on either vehicle control (n=4: 3 female and 1 male fetuses) or 10 mg/kg metformin (n=7: 5 female and 2 male fetuses) were available for analyses. Among dams initiated on metformin at gestational day 30 (regardless of maternal diet), significant bioaccumulation within the fetal kidney (0.78-6.06 μmol/kg; mean of 2.48 μmol/kg), liver (0.16-0.73 μmol/kg; mean of 0.38 μmol/kg), fetal gut (0.28-1.22 μmol/kg; mean of 0.70 μmol/kg), amniotic fluid (0.43-3.33 μmol/L; mean of 1.88 μmol/L), placenta (0.16-1.00 μmol/kg; mean of 0.50 μmol/kg), fetal serum (0.00-0.66 μmol/L; mean of 0.23 μmol/L), and fetal urine (4.10-174.10 μmol/L; mean of 38.5 μmol/L) was observed, with fetal levels near biomolar equivalent to maternal levels (maternal serum: 0.18-0.86 μmol/L [mean of 0.46 μmol/L]; maternal urine: 42.60-254.00 μmol/L [mean of 149.30 μmol/L]). Western-style diet feeding neither accelerated nor reduced metformin bioaccumulations in maternal or fetal serum, urine, amniotic fluid, placenta, or fetal tissues. In these 11 animals, fetal bioaccumulation of metformin was associated with less fetal skeletal muscle (57% lower cross-sectional area of gastrocnemius) and decreased liver, heart, and retroperitoneal fat masses (P<.05), collectively driving lower delivery weight (P<.0001) without changing the crown-rump length. Sagittal sections of fetal kidneys demonstrated delayed maturation, with disorganized glomerular generations and increased cortical thickness. This renal dysmorphology was not accompanied by structural or functional changes indicative of renal insufficiency. CONCLUSION Our study demonstrates fetal bioaccumulation of metformin with associated fetal growth restriction and renal dysmorphology after maternal initiation of the drug within 30 days of conception in primates. Given these results and the prevalence of metformin use during pregnancy, additional investigation of any potential immediate and enduring effects of prenatal metformin use is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin Bolte
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX
| | - Tyler Dean
- Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR
| | - Brandon Garcia
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX; Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Maxim D Seferovic
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX
| | | | - Gwendolynn Hummel
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX; Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Matthew Bucher
- Department of Human Physiology, University of Oregon, Eugene OR
| | - Feng Li
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX
| | - John Hicks
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX
| | - Xuan Qin
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX
| | - Melissa A Suter
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX
| | - Enrico R Barrozo
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX
| | - Michael Jochum
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX
| | - Cynthia Shope
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX
| | - Jacob E Friedman
- Harold Hamm Diabetes Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK
| | - Maureen Gannon
- Department of Medicine, Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
| | | | | | - Paul Kievit
- Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR
| | - Kjersti M Aagaard
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX; Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX; Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR.
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Shiadeh SMJ, Goretta F, Svedin P, Jansson T, Mallard C, Ardalan M. Long-term impact of maternal obesity on the gliovascular unit and ephrin signaling in the hippocampus of adult offspring. J Neuroinflammation 2024; 21:39. [PMID: 38308309 PMCID: PMC10837922 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-024-03030-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Children born to obese mothers are at increased risk of developing mood disorders and cognitive impairment. Experimental studies have reported structural changes in the brain such as the gliovascular unit as well as activation of neuroinflammatory cells as a part of neuroinflammation processing in aged offspring of obese mothers. However, the molecular mechanisms linking maternal obesity to poor neurodevelopmental outcomes are not well established. The ephrin system plays a major role in a variety of cellular processes including cell-cell interaction, synaptic plasticity, and long-term potentiation. Therefore, in this study we determined the impact of maternal obesity in pregnancy on cortical, hippocampal development, vasculature and ephrin-A3/EphA4-signaling, in the adult offspring in mice. METHODS Maternal obesity was induced in mice by a high fat/high sugar Western type of diet (HF/HS). We collected brain tissue (prefrontal cortex and hippocampus) from 6-month-old offspring of obese and lean (control) dams. Hippocampal volume, cortical thickness, myelination of white matter, density of astrocytes and microglia in relation to their activity were analyzed using 3-D stereological quantification. mRNA expression of ephrin-A3, EphA4 and synaptic markers were measured by qPCR in the brain tissue. Moreover, expression of gap junction protein connexin-43, lipocalin-2, and vascular CD31/Aquaporin 4 were determined in the hippocampus by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS Volume of hippocampus and cortical thickness were significantly smaller, and myelination impaired, while mRNA levels of hippocampal EphA4 and post-synaptic density (PSD) 95 were significantly lower in the hippocampus in the offspring of obese dams as compared to offspring of controls. Further analysis of the hippocampal gliovascular unit indicated higher coverage of capillaries by astrocytic end-feet, expression of connexin-43 and lipocalin-2 in endothelial cells in the offspring of obese dams. In addition, offspring of obese dams demonstrated activation of microglia together with higher density of cells, while astrocyte cell density was lower. CONCLUSION Maternal obesity affects brain size, impairs myelination, disrupts the hippocampal gliovascular unit and decreases the mRNA expression of EphA4 and PSD-95 in the hippocampus of adult offspring. These results indicate that the vasculature-glia cross-talk may be an important mediator of altered synaptic plasticity, which could be a link between maternal obesity and neurodevelopmental/neuropsychiatric disorders in the offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyedeh Marziyeh Jabbari Shiadeh
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Fanny Goretta
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Pernilla Svedin
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Thomas Jansson
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Department of OB/GYN, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Carina Mallard
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Maryam Ardalan
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
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Meakin AS, Nathanielsz PW, Li C, Clifton VL, Wiese MD, Morrison JL. Maternal obesity impacts fetal liver androgen signalling in a sex-specific manner. Life Sci 2024; 337:122344. [PMID: 38081408 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2023.122344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Maternal obesity (MO) increases fetal androgen concentrations, the prevalence of macrosomia, and predisposes offspring to metabolic dysfunction in later life, especially males. These risks may be, in part, the result of increased liver-specific androgen signalling pathway activity in utero. Androgen signalling activity can be suppressed by androgen metabolism via cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoenzymes (CYP2B6, CYP3A) or through inhibition of the full-length androgen receptor (AR-FL) via the antagonistic isoform, AR-45. We hypothesised MO impairs CYP enzyme activity and AR-45 expression in male fetal livers, thereby enhancing activity of androgen signalling pathways. METHODS Nine months prior to pregnancy, nulliparous female baboons were assigned to either ad libitum control or high fat diet. At 165 day (d) gestation (term, 180 d) fetal liver was collected (n = 6/sex/group). CYP activity was quantified using functional assays; subcellular AR expression was measured using Western blot. RESULTS CYP2B6 and CYP3A activity, and nuclear expression of AR-45, was reduced in MO males only. Nuclear AR-45 expression was inversely related with fetal body weight of MO males only. CONCLUSIONS Reduced CYP2B6 and CYP3A activity in conjunction with decreased nuclear AR-45 expression may enhance liver androgen signalling in males from MO pregnancies, thereby increasing the risk of macrosomia, as well as metabolic dysfunction in later life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley S Meakin
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, Health and Biomedical Innovation, Clinical & Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
| | | | - Cun Li
- Department of Animal Science, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA
| | - Vicki L Clifton
- Mater Medical Research Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Michael D Wiese
- Centre for Pharmaceutical Innovation, Clinical & Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Janna L Morrison
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, Health and Biomedical Innovation, Clinical & Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
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Alves-Silva T, Húngaro TG, Freitas-Lima LC, de Melo Arthur G, Arruda AC, Santos RB, Oyama LM, Mori MA, Bader M, Araujo RC. Kinin B1 receptor controls maternal adiponectin levels and influences offspring weight gain. iScience 2023; 26:108409. [PMID: 38058311 PMCID: PMC10696114 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Given the importance of the kinin B1 receptor in insulin and leptin hormonal regulation, which in turn is crucial in maternal adaptations to ensure nutrient supply to the fetus, we investigated the role of this receptor in maternal metabolism and fetoplacental development. Wild-type and kinin B1 receptor-deficient (B1KO) female mice were mated with male mice of the opposite genotype. Consequently, the entire litter was heterozygous for kinin B1 receptor, ensuring that there would be no influence of offspring genotype on the maternal phenotype. Maternal kinin B1 receptor blockade reduces adiponectin secretion by adipose tissue ex vivo, consistent with lower adiponectin levels in pregnant B1KO mice. Furthermore, fasting insulinemia also increased, which was associated with placental insulin resistance, reduced placental glycogen accumulation, and heavier offspring. Therefore, we propose the combination of chronic hyperinsulinemia and reduced adiponectin secretion in B1KO female mice create a maternal obesogenic environment that results in heavier pups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thaís Alves-Silva
- Laboratory of Genetics and Exercise Metabolism, Molecular Biology Program, Biophysics Department, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo 04039-032, Brazil
- Max-Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), Campus Berlin-Buch, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Talita G.R. Húngaro
- Laboratory of Genetics and Exercise Metabolism, Nephrology Program, Biophysics Department, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo 04039-032, Brazil
| | - Leandro C. Freitas-Lima
- Laboratory of Genetics and Exercise Metabolism, Molecular Biology Program, Biophysics Department, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo 04039-032, Brazil
| | - Gabriel de Melo Arthur
- Laboratory of Genetics and Exercise Metabolism, Molecular Biology Program, Biophysics Department, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo 04039-032, Brazil
| | - Adriano C. Arruda
- Laboratory of Genetics and Exercise Metabolism, Nephrology Program, Biophysics Department, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo 04039-032, Brazil
| | - Raisa B. Santos
- Laboratory of Genetics and Exercise Metabolism, Nephrology Program, Biophysics Department, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo 04039-032, Brazil
| | - Lila M. Oyama
- Laboratory of Nutrition and Endocrine Physiology, Physiology Department, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo 04023-901, Brazil
| | - Marcelo A.S. Mori
- Laboratory of Aging Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Tissue Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), São Paulo 13083-862, Brazil
| | - Michael Bader
- Max-Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), Campus Berlin-Buch, 13125 Berlin, Germany
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Institute for Biology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
- Charité University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ronaldo C. Araujo
- Laboratory of Genetics and Exercise Metabolism, Molecular Biology Program, Biophysics Department, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo 04039-032, Brazil
- Laboratory of Genetics and Exercise Metabolism, Nephrology Program, Biophysics Department, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo 04039-032, Brazil
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Greyslak KT, Hetrick B, Bergman BC, Dean TA, Wesolowski SR, Gannon M, Schenk S, Sullivan EL, Aagaard KM, Kievit P, Chicco AJ, Friedman JE, McCurdy CE. A Maternal Western-Style Diet Impairs Skeletal Muscle Lipid Metabolism in Adolescent Japanese Macaques. Diabetes 2023; 72:1766-1780. [PMID: 37725952 PMCID: PMC10658061 DOI: 10.2337/db23-0289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023]
Abstract
Maternal consumption of a Western-style diet (mWD) during pregnancy alters fatty acid metabolism and reduces insulin sensitivity in fetal skeletal muscle. The long-term impact of these fetal adaptations and the pathways underlying disordered lipid metabolism are incompletely understood. Therefore, we tested whether a mWD chronically fed to lean, insulin-sensitive adult Japanese macaques throughout pregnancy and lactation would impact skeletal muscle oxidative capacity and lipid metabolism in adolescent offspring fed a postweaning (pw) Western-style diet (WD) or control diet (CD). Although body weight was not different, retroperitoneal fat mass and subscapular skinfold thickness were significantly higher in pwWD offspring consistent with elevated fasting insulin and glucose. Maximal complex I (CI)-dependent respiration in muscle was lower in mWD offspring in the presence of fatty acids, suggesting that mWD impacts muscle integration of lipid with nonlipid oxidation. Abundance of all five oxidative phosphorylation complexes and VDAC, but not ETF/ETFDH, were reduced with mWD, partially explaining the lower respiratory capacity with lipids. Muscle triglycerides increased with pwWD; however, the fold increase in lipid saturation, 1,2-diacylglycerides, and C18 ceramide compared between pwCD and pwWD was greatest in mWD offspring. Reductions in CI abundance and VDAC correlated with reduced markers of oxidative stress, suggesting that these reductions may be an early-life adaptation to mWD to mitigate excess reactive oxygen species. Altogether, mWD, independent of maternal obesity or insulin resistance, results in sustained metabolic reprogramming in offspring muscle despite a healthy diet intervention. ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS In lean, active adolescent offspring, a postweaning Western-style diet (pwWD) leads to shifts in body fat distribution that are associated with poorer insulin sensitivity. Fatty acid-linked oxidative metabolism was reduced in skeletal muscles from offspring exposed to maternal Western-style diet (mWD) even when weaned to a healthy control diet for years. Reduced oxidative phosphorylation complex I-V and VDAC1 abundance partially explain decreased skeletal muscle respiration in mWD offspring. Prior exposure to mWD results in greater fold increase with pwWD in saturated lipids and bioactive lipid molecules (i.e. ceramide and sphingomyelin) associated with insulin resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Byron Hetrick
- Department of Human Physiology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR
| | - Bryan C. Bergman
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO
| | - Tyler A. Dean
- Division of Cardiometabolic Health, Oregon Health & Science University, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR
| | | | - Maureen Gannon
- Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
| | - Simon Schenk
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Elinor L. Sullivan
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR
- Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR
- Department of Behavioral Sciences, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR
| | - Kjersti M. Aagaard
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX
| | - Paul Kievit
- Division of Cardiometabolic Health, Oregon Health & Science University, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR
| | - Adam J. Chicco
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
| | - Jacob E. Friedman
- Harold Hamm Diabetes Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK
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Kramer AC, Jansson T, Bale TL, Powell TL. Maternal-fetal cross-talk via the placenta: influence on offspring development and metabolism. Development 2023; 150:dev202088. [PMID: 37831056 PMCID: PMC10617615 DOI: 10.1242/dev.202088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
Compelling epidemiological and animal experimental data demonstrate that cardiometabolic and neuropsychiatric diseases originate in a suboptimal intrauterine environment. Here, we review evidence suggesting that altered placental function may, at least in part, mediate the link between the maternal environment and changes in fetal growth and development. Emerging evidence indicates that the placenta controls the development and function of several fetal tissues through nutrient sensing, modulation of trophoblast nutrient transporters and by altering the number and cargo of released extracellular vesicles. In this Review, we discuss the development and functions of the maternal-placental-fetal interface (in humans and mice) and how cross-talk between these compartments may be a mechanism for in utero programming, focusing on mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), adiponectin and O-GlcNac transferase (OGT) signaling. We also discuss how maternal diet and stress influences fetal development and metabolism and how fetal growth restriction can result in susceptibility to developing chronic disease later in life. Finally, we speculate how interventions targeting placental function may offer unprecedented opportunities to prevent cardiometabolic disease in future generations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avery C. Kramer
- Departments of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Psychiatry and Pediatrics, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Thomas Jansson
- Departments of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Psychiatry and Pediatrics, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Tracy L. Bale
- Departments of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Psychiatry and Pediatrics, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Theresa L. Powell
- Departments of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Psychiatry and Pediatrics, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
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Cristian A, Tarry-Adkins JL, Aiken CE. The Uterine Environment and Childhood Obesity Risk: Mechanisms and Predictions. Curr Nutr Rep 2023; 12:416-425. [PMID: 37338777 PMCID: PMC10444661 DOI: 10.1007/s13668-023-00482-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Childhood obesity is a growing health problem in many populations, hence the urgent need to unravel the underlying mechanisms. Some evidence suggests that exposure to suboptimal intrauterine environments can program foetal metabolic health, with adverse consequences in later life, including susceptibility to childhood obesity. FINDINGS Factors such as high and low foetal birth weight, excessive gestational-weight-gain, maternal stress and smoking are all associated with increased risk of childhood obesity in observational studies. Animal models, where both genetic background and the postnatal environment can be carefully controlled, suggest that several different mechanisms, including epigenetic changes, dysregulation of adipose tissue development and programming of appetite, may be key drivers of developmental programming of childhood obesity. However, the influence of genetics and the post-natal environment are much more difficult to disentangle as independent effects in human studies, which are also complicated by low follow-up rates. Suboptimal intrauterine environments interact with maternal and foetal genetics and with the postnatal environment to contribute to the risk of childhood obesity. Maternal metabolic challenges, for example obesity and insulin resistance, contribute to the risk of foetal overgrowth and subsequent adiposity in childhood. To protect the long-term health of populations, research focusing on effective means of identifying and intervening in the transgenerational cycle of childhood obesity is required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreea Cristian
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of CambridgeThe Rosie HospitalandNIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Box 223, Cambridge, CB2 0SW, UK
- Wellcome-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science and Medical Research Council Metabolic Diseases Unit, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Jane L Tarry-Adkins
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of CambridgeThe Rosie HospitalandNIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Box 223, Cambridge, CB2 0SW, UK
| | - Catherine E Aiken
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of CambridgeThe Rosie HospitalandNIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Box 223, Cambridge, CB2 0SW, UK.
- Wellcome-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science and Medical Research Council Metabolic Diseases Unit, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK.
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Kelly A, Chan J, Powell TL, Cox LA, Jansson T, Rosario FJ. Maternal obesity alters the placental transcriptome in a fetal sex-dependent manner. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1178533. [PMID: 37397247 PMCID: PMC10309565 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1178533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Infants born to obese mothers have an increased risk of developing obesity and metabolic diseases in childhood and adulthood. Although the molecular mechanisms linking maternal obesity during pregnancy to the development of metabolic diseases in offspring are poorly understood, evidence suggests that changes in the placental function may play a role. Using a mouse model of diet-induced obesity with fetal overgrowth, we performed RNA-seq analysis at embryonic day 18.5 to identify genes differentially expressed in the placentas of obese and normal-weight dams (controls). In male placentas, 511 genes were upregulated and 791 genes were downregulated in response to maternal obesity. In female placentas, 722 genes were downregulated and 474 genes were upregulated in response to maternal obesity. The top canonical pathway downregulated in maternal obesity in male placentas was oxidative phosphorylation. In contrast, sirtuin signaling, NF-kB signaling, phosphatidylinositol, and fatty acid degradation were upregulated. In female placentas, the top canonical pathways downregulated in maternal obesity were triacylglycerol biosynthesis, glycerophospholipid metabolism, and endocytosis. In contrast, bone morphogenetic protein, TNF, and MAPK signaling were upregulated in the female placentas of the obese group. In agreement with RNA-seq data, the expression of proteins associated with oxidative phosphorylation was downregulated in male but not female placentas of obese mice. Similarly, sex-specific changes in the protein expression of mitochondrial complexes were found in placentas collected from obese women delivering large-for-gestational-age (LGA) babies. In conclusion, maternal obesity with fetal overgrowth differentially regulates the placental transcriptome in male and female placentas, including genes involved in oxidative phosphorylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Kelly
- Department of Surgery, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ, United States
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Jeannie Chan
- Center for Precision Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Molecular Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
| | - Theresa L. Powell
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
- Section of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Laura A. Cox
- Center for Precision Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Molecular Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
| | - Thomas Jansson
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Fredrick J. Rosario
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
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Donato J. Programming of metabolism by adipokines during development. Nat Rev Endocrinol 2023:10.1038/s41574-023-00828-1. [PMID: 37055548 DOI: 10.1038/s41574-023-00828-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 04/15/2023]
Abstract
The intrauterine and early postnatal periods represent key developmental stages in which an organism is highly susceptible to being permanently influenced by maternal factors and nutritional status. Strong evidence indicates that either undernutrition or overnutrition during development can predispose individuals to disease later in life, especially type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity, a concept known as metabolic programming. Adipose tissue produces important signalling molecules that control energy and glucose homeostasis, including leptin and adiponectin. In addition to their well-characterized metabolic effects in adults, adipokines have been associated with metabolic programming by affecting different aspects of development. Therefore, alterations in the secretion or signalling of adipokines, caused by nutritional insults in early life, might lead to metabolic diseases in adulthood. This Review summarizes and discusses the potential role of several adipokines in inducing metabolic programming through their effects during development. The identification of the endocrine factors that act in early life to permanently influence metabolism represents a key step in understanding the mechanisms behind metabolic programming. Thus, future strategies aiming to prevent and treat these metabolic diseases can be designed, taking into consideration the relationship between adipokines and the developmental origins of health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose Donato
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Instituto de Ciencias Biomedicas, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
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10
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Kulhanek D, Abrahante Llorens JE, Buckley L, Tkac I, Rao R, Paulsen ME. Female and male C57BL/6J offspring exposed to maternal obesogenic diet develop altered hypothalamic energy metabolism in adulthood. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2022; 323:E448-E466. [PMID: 36342228 PMCID: PMC9639756 DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.00100.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2022] [Revised: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Maternal obesity is exceedingly common and strongly linked to offspring obesity and metabolic disease. Hypothalamic function is critical to obesity development. Hypothalamic mechanisms causing obesity following exposure to maternal obesity have not been elucidated. Therefore, we studied a cohort of C57BL/6J dams, treated with a control or high-fat-high-sugar diet, and their adult offspring to explore potential hypothalamic mechanisms to explain the link between maternal and offspring obesity. Dams treated with obesogenic diet were heavier with mild insulin resistance, which is reflective of the most common metabolic disease in pregnancy. Adult offspring exposed to maternal obesogenic diet had no change in body weight but significant increase in fat mass, decreased glucose tolerance, decreased insulin sensitivity, elevated plasma leptin, and elevated plasma thyroid-stimulating hormone. In addition, offspring exposed to maternal obesity had decreased energy intake and activity without change in basal metabolic rate. Hypothalamic neurochemical profile and transcriptome demonstrated decreased neuronal activity and inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation. Collectively, these results indicate that maternal obesity without diabetes is associated with adiposity and decreased hypothalamic energy production in offspring. We hypothesize that altered hypothalamic function significantly contributes to obesity development. Future studies focused on neuroprotective strategies aimed to improve hypothalamic function may decrease obesity development.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Offspring exposed to maternal diet-induced obesity demonstrate a phenotype consistent with energy excess. Contrary to previous studies, the observed energy phenotype was not associated with hyperphagia or decreased basal metabolic rate but rather decreased hypothalamic neuronal activity and energy production. This was supported by neurochemical changes in the hypothalamus as well as inhibition of hypothalamic oxidative phosphorylation pathway. These results highlight the potential for neuroprotective interventions in the prevention of obesity with fetal origins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debra Kulhanek
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | | | - Lauren Buckley
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Ivan Tkac
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, Department of Radiology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Raghavendra Rao
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, Department of Radiology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Megan E Paulsen
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Minnesota Institute for the Developing Brain, Minneapolis, Minnesota
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11
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Rajamoorthi A, LeDuc CA, Thaker VV. The metabolic conditioning of obesity: A review of the pathogenesis of obesity and the epigenetic pathways that "program" obesity from conception. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:1032491. [PMID: 36329895 PMCID: PMC9622759 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.1032491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the developmental origins of health and disease is integral to overcome the global tide of obesity and its metabolic consequences, including atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. The rising prevalence of obesity has been attributed, in part, to environmental factors including the globalization of the western diet and unhealthy lifestyle choices. In this review we argue that how and when such exposures come into play from conception significantly impact overall risk of obesity and later health outcomes. While the laws of thermodynamics dictate that obesity is caused by an imbalance between caloric intake and energy expenditure, the drivers of each of these may be laid down before the manifestation of the phenotype. We present evidence over the last half-century that suggests that the temporospatial evolution of obesity from intrauterine life and beyond is, in part, due to the conditioning of physiological processes at critical developmental periods that results in maladaptive responses to obesogenic exposures later in life. We begin the review by introducing studies that describe an association between perinatal factors and later risk of obesity. After a brief discussion of the pathogenesis of obesity, including the systemic regulation of appetite, adiposity, and basal metabolic rate, we delve into the mechanics of how intrauterine, postnatal and early childhood metabolic environments may contribute to adult obesity risk through the process of metabolic conditioning. Finally, we detail the specific epigenetic pathways identified both in preclinical and clinical studies that synergistically "program" obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ananthi Rajamoorthi
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Charles A. LeDuc
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
- The Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center, Columbia University IRVING Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Vidhu V. Thaker
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
- The Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center, Columbia University IRVING Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
- Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
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12
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Cechinel LR, Batabyal RA, Freishtat RJ, Zohn IE. Parental obesity-induced changes in developmental programming. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:918080. [PMID: 36274855 PMCID: PMC9585252 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.918080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Many studies support the link between parental obesity and the predisposition to develop adult-onset metabolic syndromes that include obesity, high blood pressure, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and diabetes in the offspring. As the prevalence of obesity increases in persons of childbearing age, so does metabolic syndrome in their descendants. Understanding how parental obesity alters metabolic programs in the progeny, predisposing them to adult-onset metabolic syndrome, is key to breaking this cycle. This review explores the basis for altered metabolism of offspring exposed to overnutrition by focusing on critical developmental processes influenced by parental obesity. We draw from human and animal model studies, highlighting the adaptations in metabolism that occur during normal pregnancy that become maladaptive with obesity. We describe essential phases of development impacted by parental obesity that contribute to long-term alterations in metabolism in the offspring. These encompass gamete formation, placentation, adipogenesis, pancreas development, and development of brain appetite control circuits. Parental obesity alters the developmental programming of these organs in part by inducing epigenetic changes with long-term consequences on metabolism. While exposure to parental obesity during any of these phases is sufficient to alter long-term metabolism, offspring often experience multiple exposures throughout their development. These insults accumulate to increase further the susceptibility of the offspring to the obesogenic environments of modern society.
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13
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Kelly AC, J Rosario F, Chan J, Cox LA, Powell TL, Jansson T. Transcriptomic responses are sex-dependent in the skeletal muscle and liver in offspring of obese mice. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2022; 323:E336-E353. [PMID: 35858246 PMCID: PMC9529275 DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.00263.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2021] [Revised: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Infants born to obese mothers are more likely to develop metabolic disease, including glucose intolerance and hepatic steatosis, in adult life. We examined the effects of maternal obesity on the transcriptome of skeletal muscle and liver tissues of the near-term fetus and 3-mo-old offspring in mice born to dams fed a high-fat and -sugar diet. Previously, we have shown that male, but not female, offspring develop glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, and liver steatosis at 3 mo old. Female C57BL6/J mice were fed normal chow or an obesogenic high-calorie diet before mating and throughout pregnancy. RNAseq was performed on the liver and gastrocnemius muscle following collection from fetuses on embryonic day 18.5 (E18.5) as well as from 3-mo-old offspring from obese dams and control dams. Significant genes were generated for each sex, queried for enrichment, and modeled to canonical pathways. RNAseq was corroborated by protein quantification in offspring. The transcriptomic response to maternal obesity in the liver was more marked in males than females. However, in both male and female offspring of obese dams, we found significant enrichment for fatty acid metabolism, mitochondrial transport, and oxidative stress in the liver transcriptomes as well as decreased protein concentrations of electron transport chain members. In skeletal muscle, pathway analysis of gene expression revealed sexual dimorphic patterns, including metabolic processes of fatty acids and glucose, as well as PPAR, AMPK, and PI3K-Akt signaling pathways. Transcriptomic responses to maternal obesity in skeletal muscle were more marked in female offspring than males. Female offspring had greater expression of genes associated with glucose uptake, and protein abundance reflected greater activation of mTOR signaling. Skeletal muscle and livers in mice born to obese dams had sexually dimorphic transcriptomic responses that changed from the fetus to the adult offspring. These data provide insights into mechanisms underpinning metabolic programming in maternal obesity.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Transcriptomic data support that fetuses of obese mothers modulate metabolism in both muscle and liver. These changes were strikingly sexually dimorphic in agreement with published findings that male offspring of obese dams exhibit pronounced metabolic disease earlier. In both males and females, the transcriptomic responses in the fetus were different than those at 3 mo, implicating adaptive mechanisms throughout adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy C Kelly
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Fredrick J Rosario
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Jeannie Chan
- Section of Molecular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Center for Precision Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
| | - Laura A Cox
- Section of Molecular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Center for Precision Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
| | - Theresa L Powell
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Neonatology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Thomas Jansson
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
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14
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Dumolt J, Powell TL, Jansson T, Rosario FJ. Normalization of maternal adiponectin in obese pregnant mice prevents programming of impaired glucose metabolism in adult offspring. FASEB J 2022; 36:e22383. [PMID: 35670755 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202200326r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Infants born to obese mothers have a greater risk for childhood obesity and insulin resistance. However, the underlying biological mechanism remains elusive, which constitutes a significant roadblock for developing specific prevention strategies. Maternal adiponectin levels are lower in obese pregnant women, which is linked with increased placental nutrient transport and fetal overgrowth. We have previously reported that adiponectin supplementation to obese dams during the last four days of pregnancy prevented the development of obesity, glucose intolerance, muscle insulin resistance, and fatty liver in three months old offspring. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that 6-9-month-old offspring of obese dams show glucose intolerance associated with muscle insulin resistance and mitochondrial dysfunction and that normalization of maternal adiponectin in obese pregnant mice prevents the development of this phenotype in the offspring. Male and female offspring of obese mice exhibited in vivo glucose intolerance and insulin resistance at 6 and 9 months of age. In gastrocnemius muscles ex vivo, male and female offspring of obese dams showed reduced phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate 1Tyr-608 , AktThr-308 , and decreased Glut4 plasma membrane translocation upon insulin stimulation. These metabolic abnormalities in offspring born to obese mice were largely prevented by normalization of maternal adiponectin levels in late pregnancy. We provide evidence that low circulating maternal adiponectin is a critical mechanistic link between maternal obesity and the development of metabolic disease in offspring. Strategies aimed at improving maternal adiponectin levels may prevent long-term metabolic dysfunction in offspring of obese mothers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jerad Dumolt
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Department of OB/GYN, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Theresa L Powell
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Department of OB/GYN, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA.,Section of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Thomas Jansson
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Department of OB/GYN, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Fredrick J Rosario
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Department of OB/GYN, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
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15
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Zheng Y, Hu Q, Wu J. Adiponectin ameliorates placental injury in gestational diabetes mice by correcting fatty acid oxidation/peroxide imbalance-induced ferroptosis via restoration of CPT-1 activity. Endocrine 2022; 75:781-793. [PMID: 34859390 DOI: 10.1007/s12020-021-02933-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE In gestational diabetes (GDM), abnormalities occur not only in glucose metabolism, but also in lipid metabolism. Adiponectin (ADPN) plays an important role in the regulation of lipid metabolism. In this paper, the role and mechanism of ADPN in GDM are discussed. METHODS GDM model was formed in pregnant mice induced by high-fat diet and streptozotocin, and blood glucose level was detected after ADPN treatment. The levels of TG, TC, HDL-C, and LDL-C in blood lipid of mice were detected by biochemical apparatus. HE staining was used to detect the placenta damage in mice. The expression of oxidative stress-related indexes in placental tissues was also detected by ELISA. Placental iron deposition was detected by Prussian blue staining. Redox capacity of placental tissue was detected by ELISA. Western blot was used to detect the expression of ferroptosis-related proteins in placental tissues. The expression of ADPN in placenta and peripheral blood was detected by ELISA, and the expression of ADPNR, downstream CPT-1, and GLUT4 of placenta were detected by RT-qPCR and western blot. Subsequently, trophoblast cells were induced by palmitic acid and glucose, and the cell activity was detected by CCK-8. The results in animal experiments were verified in cell experiments by RT-qPCR, western blot, and fluorescence labeling of iron ions. Finally, ADPN and CPT-1 inhibitor PM were given to trophoblast cells to further explore the mechanism. RESULTS ADPN inhibited blood glucose and lipid levels in GDM mice. ADPN inhibited oxidation/peroxide imbalance-induced ferroptosis in placental tissues of GDM mice. ADPN inhibited the expression of CPT-1 and GLUT4 in placental tissues of GDM mice. This result was also confirmed in cell experiments, and this process may be achieved by regulating CPT-1. CONCLUSIONS ADPN ameliorated placental injury in GDM by correcting fatty acid oxidation/peroxide imbalance-induced ferroptosis via restoration of CPT-1 activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifang Zheng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, 030002, China
| | - Qiaosheng Hu
- Department of Nutrition, Lianshui County People's Hospital, Lianshui, Jiangsu, 223400, China
| | - Jieli Wu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wenzhou Central Hospital, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325000, China.
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16
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Aye ILMH, Rosario FJ, Kramer A, Kristiansen O, Michelsen TM, Powell TL, Jansson T. Insulin Increases Adipose Adiponectin in Pregnancy by Inhibiting Ubiquitination and Degradation: Impact of Obesity. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2022; 107:53-66. [PMID: 34519830 PMCID: PMC8684469 DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgab680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Circulating adiponectin levels are decreased in pregnant women with obesity or gestational diabetes, and this is believed to contribute to the insulin resistance and increased risk of fetal overgrowth associated with these conditions. However, the molecular mechanisms regulating adiponectin secretion from maternal adipose tissues in pregnancy are poorly understood. OBJECTIVE We tested the hypothesis that obesity in pregnancy is associated with adipose tissue insulin resistance and increased adiponectin ubiquitination and degradation, caused by inflammation and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. METHODS Visceral adipose tissues were collected from lean and obese pregnant humans and mice. Total and ubiquitinated adiponectin, and markers of inflammation, ER stress, and insulin resistance were examined in adipose tissues. The role of insulin, inflammation, and ER stress in mediating adiponectin ubiquitination and degradation was examined using 3T3L-1 adipocytes. RESULTS Obesity in pregnancy is associated with adipose tissue inflammation, ER stress, insulin resistance, increased adiponectin ubiquitination, and decreased total abundance of adiponectin. Adiponectin ubiquitination was increased in visceral fat of obese pregnant women as compared to lean pregnant women. We further observed that insulin prevents, whereas ER stress and inflammation promote, adiponectin ubiquitination and degradation in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes. CONCLUSION We have identified adiponectin ubiquitination as a key mechanism by which obesity diminishes adiponectin secretion in pregnancy. This information will help us better understand the mechanisms controlling maternal insulin resistance and fetal growth in pregnancy and may provide a foundation for the development of strategies aimed at improving adiponectin production in pregnant women with obesity or gestational diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irving L M H Aye
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, and Centre for Trophoblast Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
- Correspondence: Irving L. M. H. Aye, PhD, Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, University of Cambridge, The Rosie Hospital, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 0SW, UK.
| | - Fredrick J Rosario
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Anita Kramer
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Oddrun Kristiansen
- Department of Obstetrics, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Trond M Michelsen
- Department of Obstetrics, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Theresa L Powell
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Neonatology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Thomas Jansson
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
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17
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Paulsen ME, Brown SJ, Satrom KM, Scheurer JM, Ramel SE, Rao RB. Long-Term Outcomes after Early Neonatal Hyperglycemia in VLBW Infants: A Systematic Review. Neonatology 2021; 118:509-521. [PMID: 34412051 PMCID: PMC8530871 DOI: 10.1159/000517951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Long-term effects of early hyperglycemia in VLBW infants are poorly characterized. The objective of this study was to systematically review the effect of early hyperglycemia on growth, metabolic health, and neurodevelopment after neonatal intensive care unit discharge in VLBW infants. METHODS The systematic review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. A study protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42019123335). Data sources included Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, and Scopus. Selected studies included infants with a blood glucose concentration >150 mg/dL (8.3 mmol/L) during the first 28 days of life, a gestational age (GA) <32 weeks, and/or a birth weight <1,500 g and longitudinal data on growth, metabolic health, or neurodevelopment outcomes. The GRADE system was used to assess quality of evidence. RESULTS Eight studies (n = 987 infants) reported long-term outcomes from 4-month corrected GA to 7 years old. Most studies compared long-term outcomes of preterm infants with and without hyperglycemia. Two studies addressed outcomes related to interventions following early hyperglycemia. Some studies found differences in growth, metabolic health, and neurodevelopment outcomes between VLBW preterm infants with hyperglycemia and without hyperglycemia, while other studies found no differences between groups. The overall graded quality of evidence was low. CONCLUSIONS Well-designed randomized controlled and prospective studies are necessary to determine the effect of early hyperglycemia and its treatment on later metabolic and neurodevelopmental outcomes in VLBW infants. Authors propose a potential study design for standardizing the assessment of long-term metabolic and neurodevelopmental outcomes following early hyperglycemia in preterm infants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan E Paulsen
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Sarah Jane Brown
- Health Sciences Library, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Katherine M Satrom
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Johannah M Scheurer
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Sara E Ramel
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Raghavendra B Rao
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
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18
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Tang Y, Wang D, Zhang H, Zhang Y, Wang J, Qi R, Yang J, Shen H, Xu Y, Li M. Rapid responses of adipocytes to iron overload increase serum TG level by decreasing adiponectin. J Cell Physiol 2021; 236:7544-7553. [PMID: 33855731 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.30391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Revised: 03/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Iron overload is tightly connected with metabolic disorders. Excess iron in the adipose and its roles in dyslipidemia are of interest to be identified. In acute iron overload mice receiving intraperitoneal injection of 100 mg/kg/day dextran-iron for 5 days, the epididymis adipose showed a remarkable increase in iron. Serum triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels were increased and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level was decreased, while serum alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase, glucose, and insulin were not affected. The serum-cytokine-microarray showed that adipocytokines, including adiponectin, leptin, and resistin were significantly decreased. Other serum cytokines, including pro-insulin cytokines, inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors were not changed, except that ghrelin and chemokine RANTES were increased. Iron overload decreased expressions of adiponectin and leptin both in vivo and in vitro. Intraperitoneal injection of recombinant leptin at 1 μg/g in acute iron overload mice had no significant effects on serum levels of TC, TG, HDL-C, and LDL-C, while intraperitoneal injection of recombinant adiponectin at 3 μg/g partially restored serum TG level through improving activities of lipoprotein lipase and hepatic lipase, but abnormal serum LDL-C and HDL-C were not redressed, suggesting other mechanisms also existed. In conclusion, the adipose responds to iron overload at an early stage to interfere with lipid metabolism by secreting adipocytokines, which may further affect glucose metabolism, inflammation, and other iron overload-induced effects on the body.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxiao Tang
- Department of Nutrition, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Dongyao Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.,Faculty of Pharmacy, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hongwei Zhang
- Department of Nutrition, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.,Department of Clinical Nutrition, Zhumadian Second People's Hospital, Henan, China
| | - Yinyin Zhang
- Department of Nutrition, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jie Wang
- Department of Nutrition, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ruirui Qi
- Department of Nutrition, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jianxin Yang
- Department of Nutrition, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hui Shen
- Department of Nutrition, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yan Xu
- Institute of International Medical Science and Technology, Sanda University, Shanghai, China
| | - Min Li
- Department of Nutrition, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.,Institute of International Medical Science and Technology, Sanda University, Shanghai, China
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19
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Pheiffer C, Dias S, Jack B, Malaza N, Adam S. Adiponectin as a Potential Biomarker for Pregnancy Disorders. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:1326. [PMID: 33572712 PMCID: PMC7866110 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22031326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Revised: 12/28/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Adiponectin is an adipocyte-derived hormone that plays a critical role in energy homeostasis, mainly attributed to its insulin-sensitizing properties. Accumulating studies have reported that adiponectin concentrations are decreased during metabolic diseases, such as obesity and type 2 diabetes, with an emerging body of evidence providing support for its use as a biomarker for pregnancy complications. The identification of maternal factors that could predict the outcome of compromised pregnancies could act as valuable tools that allow the early recognition of high-risk pregnancies, facilitating close follow-up and prevention of pregnancy complications in mother and child. In this review we consider the role of adiponectin as a potential biomarker of disorders associated with pregnancy. We discuss common disorders associated with pregnancy (gestational diabetes mellitus, preeclampsia, preterm birth and abnormal intrauterine growth) and highlight studies that have investigated the potential of adiponectin to serve as biomarkers for these disorders. We conclude the review by recommending strategies to consider for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Pheiffer
- Biomedical Research and Innovation Platform (BRIP), South African Medical Research Council, P.O. Box 19070, Tygerberg, Cape Town 7505, South Africa; (S.D.); (B.J.); (N.M.)
- Division of Medical Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, P.O. Box 19063, Tygerberg, Cape Town 7505, South Africa
| | - Stephanie Dias
- Biomedical Research and Innovation Platform (BRIP), South African Medical Research Council, P.O. Box 19070, Tygerberg, Cape Town 7505, South Africa; (S.D.); (B.J.); (N.M.)
| | - Babalwa Jack
- Biomedical Research and Innovation Platform (BRIP), South African Medical Research Council, P.O. Box 19070, Tygerberg, Cape Town 7505, South Africa; (S.D.); (B.J.); (N.M.)
| | - Nompumelelo Malaza
- Biomedical Research and Innovation Platform (BRIP), South African Medical Research Council, P.O. Box 19070, Tygerberg, Cape Town 7505, South Africa; (S.D.); (B.J.); (N.M.)
- Department of Reproductive Biology, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X169, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
| | - Sumaiya Adam
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X169, Pretoria 0001, South Africa;
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20
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Abstract
Almost 2 billion adults in the world are overweight, and more than half of them are classified as obese, while nearly one-third of children globally experience poor growth and development. Given the vast amount of knowledge that has been gleaned from decades of research on growth and development, a number of questions remain as to why the world is now in the midst of a global epidemic of obesity accompanied by the "double burden of malnutrition," where overweight coexists with underweight and micronutrient deficiencies. This challenge to the human condition can be attributed to nutritional and environmental exposures during pregnancy that may program a fetus to have a higher risk of chronic diseases in adulthood. To explore this concept, frequently called the developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD), this review considers a host of factors and physiological mechanisms that drive a fetus or child toward a higher risk of obesity, fatty liver disease, hypertension, and/or type 2 diabetes (T2D). To that end, this review explores the epidemiology of DOHaD with discussions focused on adaptations to human energetics, placental development, dysmetabolism, and key environmental exposures that act to promote chronic diseases in adulthood. These areas are complementary and additive in understanding how providing the best conditions for optimal growth can create the best possible conditions for lifelong health. Moreover, understanding both physiological as well as epigenetic and molecular mechanisms for DOHaD is vital to most fully address the global issues of obesity and other chronic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J Hoffman
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Program in International Nutrition, and Center for Childhood Nutrition Research, New Jersey Institute for Food, Nutrition, and Health, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey
| | - Theresa L Powell
- Department of Pediatrics and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Emily S Barrett
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Division of Exposure Science and Epidemiology, Rutgers Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey
| | - Daniel B Hardy
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Division of Exposure Science and Epidemiology, Rutgers Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey
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21
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Kulhanek D, Weigel R, Paulsen ME. Maternal High-Fat-High-Carbohydrate Diet-Induced Obesity Is Associated with Increased Appetite in Peripubertal Male but Not Female C57Bl/6J Mice. Nutrients 2020; 12:E2919. [PMID: 32987812 PMCID: PMC7598591 DOI: 10.3390/nu12102919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Revised: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 09/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Diet-induced maternal obesity might play a critical role in altering hypothalamic development, predisposing the offspring to obesity and metabolic disease later in life. The objective of this study was to describe both phenotypic and molecular sex differences in peripubertal offspring energy homeostasis, using a mouse model of maternal obesity induced by a high-fat-high-carbohydrate (HFHC) diet. We report that males, not females, exposed to a maternal HFHC diet had increased energy intake. Males exposed to a maternal HFHC diet had a 15% increased meal size and a 46% increased frequency, compared to the control (CON) males, without a change in energy expenditure. CON and HFHC offspring did not differ in body weight, composition, or plasma metabolic profile. HFHC diet caused decreased hypothalamic glucocorticoid expression, which was further decreased in males compared to females. Maternal weight, maternal caloric intake, and male offspring meal frequency were inversely correlated with offspring hypothalamic insulin receptor (IR) expression. There was a significant interaction between maternal-diet exposure and sex in hypothalamic IR. Based on our preclinical data, we suggest that interventions focusing on normalizing maternal nutrition might be considered to attenuate nutritional influences on obesity programming and curb the continuing rise in obesity rates.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Megan E. Paulsen
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; (D.K.); (R.W.)
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22
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Role of adipose tissue in regulating fetal growth in gestational diabetes mellitus. Placenta 2020; 102:39-48. [PMID: 33218577 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2020.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2020] [Revised: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 05/17/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a global health issue with significant short and long-term complications for both mother and baby. There is a strong need to identify an effective therapeutic that can prevent the development of GDM. A better understanding of the pathophysiology of GDM and the relationship between the adipose tissue, the placenta and fetal growth is required. The placenta regulates fetal growth by modulating nutrient transfer of glucose, amino acids and fatty acids. Various factors secreted by the adipose tissue, such as adipokines, adipocytokines and more recently identified extracellular vesicles, can influence inflammation and interact with placental nutrient transport. In this review, the role of the placental nutrient transporters and the adipose-derived factors that can influence their function will be discussed. A better understanding of these factors and their relationship may make a potential target for therapeutic interventions to prevent the development of GDM and its consequences.
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23
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Castillo-Castrejon M, Jansson T, Powell TL. No evidence of attenuation of placental insulin-stimulated Akt phosphorylation and amino acid transport in maternal obesity and gestational diabetes mellitus. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2019; 317:E1037-E1049. [PMID: 31573844 PMCID: PMC6962503 DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.00196.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Pregnancies complicated by obesity and/or gestational diabetes (GDM) are associated with peripheral insulin resistance; however, the insulin responsiveness of the placenta in these pregnancy complications remains largely unknown. We tested the hypothesis that primary human trophoblast cells and placental villous explants will be insulin responsive, characterized by amino acid transport, Akt and Erk activity with maternal obesity, and/or GDM. We evaluated term placentas from women with normal body mass index (BMI) (normal; n = 15), obesity (OB; n = 11), normal BMI with GDM (N-GDM; n = 11), and obesity with GDM (OB-GDM; n = 11). In a subgroup, primary human trophoblast cells (PHT) were isolated, and in an independent subgroup placental villous explants were exposed to varying concentrations of insulin. Amino acid transport capacity and insulin signaling activity were determined. Insulin significantly increased amino acid transport activity to a similar degree in PHT cells isolated from normal (+21%), N-GDM (+38%), OB (+37%), and OB-GDM (+35%) pregnancies. Insulin increased Akt and Erk phosphorylation in PHT cells (3-fold) and in villous explants (2-fold) in all groups to a similar degree. In contrast to the peripheral maternal insulin resistance commonly associated with obesity and/or GDM, we found that the placenta is insulin sensitive in these pregnancy complications. We suggest that elevated maternal insulin levels in pregnancies complicated by obesity and/or GDM promote critical placental functions, including amino acid transport. Insulin-stimulated placental nutrient delivery may contribute to the increased risk of fetal overgrowth and adiposity in these pregnancies. Moreover, our findings may inform efforts to optimize insulin regimens for women with GDM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marisol Castillo-Castrejon
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Thomas Jansson
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Theresa L Powell
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Neonatology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
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24
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Normalisation of circulating adiponectin levels in obese pregnant mice prevents cardiac dysfunction in adult offspring. Int J Obes (Lond) 2019; 44:488-499. [PMID: 31076636 DOI: 10.1038/s41366-019-0374-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2018] [Revised: 03/06/2019] [Accepted: 03/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES Adiponectin concentrations are low in obese pregnant women. Restoring normal adiponectin concentrations by infusion in obese pregnant mice prevents placental dysfunction, foetal overgrowth and metabolic syndrome in the offspring. We hypothesised that normalising maternal adiponectin in obese late pregnant dams prevents cardiac dysfunction in the adult offspring. SUBJECTS/METHODS Pregnant female mice with diet-induced obesity were infused with adiponectin (0.62 μg g-1 day-1, n = 24) or saline (n = 22) over days 14.5-18.5 of pregnancy (term = day 19.5). Control dams ate standard chow and received saline (n = 22). Offspring were studied at 3 and 6 months of age. RESULTS Maternal obesity impaired ventricular diastolic function, increased cardiomyocyte cross-sectional area and upregulated cardiac brain natriuretic peptide (Nppb) and α-skeletal actin (Acta1) gene expression in adult male offspring, compared to control offspring. In adult female offspring, maternal obesity increased Nppb expression, decreased end-diastolic volume and caused age-dependent diastolic dysfunction but not cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. Maternal obesity also activated cardiac Akt and mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signalling in male, but not in female, offspring and inhibited cardiac extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) in both sexes. Normalising maternal circulating adiponectin concentrations by infusing obese dams with adiponectin prevented offspring diastolic dysfunction and ventricular dilation and normalised cardiac Akt-mTOR signalling irrespective of sex. Maternal adiponectin infusion also reduced cardiac Nppb expression and increased ERK1/2 signalling in offspring of obese dams. Adiponectin infusion did not prevent cardiomyocyte hypertrophy but reduced ventricular wall thickness in male offspring and increased collagen content in female offspring of obese dams, compared to controls. CONCLUSIONS Low maternal adiponectin levels in obese mice in late pregnancy are mechanistically linked to in utero programming of cardiac dysfunction in their offspring. Interventions enhancing endogenous adiponectin secretion or signalling in obese pregnant women could prevent the development of cardiac dysfunction in their children.
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