Gestational diabetic patients have increased circulating leptin levels correlating with insulin levels

G CISNEROS; ANTONIO PÉREZ PÉREZ; PATRICIA FERNÁNDEZ RIEJOS; CECILIA L VARONE; M. RAMIREZ-PINEDA; JOSÉ DUEÑAS; VÍCTOR SÁNCHEZ MARGALET

California

Congreso; Annual Meeting of American Association for Clinical Chemistry; 2010

American Association for Clinical Chemistry

Objectives: Leptin is a regulatory hormone in many cellular systems, including trophoblastic cells, where it is produced and may function as a trophic factor. In the present work we aimed to study the expression level of leptin in pathological pregnancy (gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia) compared with control placenta from normal pregnancies. Materials and Methods: We have studied trophoblastic samples from placenta obtained from donors after full-term delivery. 8 control placenta from normal pregnancies, 6 placenta from gestational diabetes, and 5 placenta from pre-eclampsia were studied. Leptin expression level was determined by real time PCR and the protein level by immunoblot. Student´s t test was employed to assess statistical differences. Results: We have found that every placenta from pathological pregnancy have increased expression level of leptin, compared with control placenta from normal pregnancy. Both placenta from gestational diabetes and preeclampsia expressed in average twice as much leptin levels than control placenta, significant differences (p<0.001) between placenta from pathological pregnancy and control placenta were found. Conclusions: Pathological pregnancy (gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia) produces an increase in the leptin expression in trophoblast, and leptin may be a useful marker in the diagnosis and follow-up of these pathological pregnancie