The Relation Of Oxidative Stress Biomarkers With Proinflammatory Cytokines In Gestational Diabetes

Abstract

Background: It has been shown that the synthesis and secretion of cytokines is influenced by the imbalance in oxidant/antioxidant status. In this study, the relation between the circulating levels of oxidative stress biomarkers and proinflammatory cytokines was searched in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) patients in order to evaluate the possible role of oxidative stress in ongoing proinflammatory condition and impaired glucose homeostasis. Methods and findings: 33 pregnant women with GDM and 20 pregnant free of any maternal or fetal disorders were included in the study. Visfatin, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10 and anti-ox-LDL levels were determined by ELISA. Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and total antioxidant status (TOS) were measured spectrophotometrically. In the GDM group, MDA levels were significantly elevated (p=0.001), while the increment in TOS showed a borderline significance (p=0.05) as compared to the control group. Anti-ox-LDL of both groups remained unchanged. Serum IL-6 and IL-1β were significantly high (p=0.039, and p=0.04) in the GDM group, visfatin and IL-10 were similar in both groups. Slight but no significant increases in TNF-α levels were observed. TNF-α was associated with anti-ox-LDL (r=0.307, p=0.038) and HbA1c (r=0.352, p=0.05), MDA were correlated with TNF-α (r=0.420, p=0.004), TNF-α /IL-1β ratio (r=0.421, p=0.018), and with HbA1c (r=442, p=0.013). Anti-ox-LDL was correlated with TNF-α /IL-10 ratio (r=-0.361, p=0.046). Conclusion: Our results indicated that MDA and TOS levels are elevated in close association with hyperglycemia and some proinflammatory cytokines in GDM patients. According to our study, reestablishment of the oxidant/antioxidant balance should be considered as one of the main therapeutic targets in order to establish normoglycemia as well as to outweigh the inflammatory state in GDM.