Perinatal Changes of Plasma Resistin Concentrations in Pregnancies with Normal and Restricted Fetal Growth

Abstract

Background:The adipocytokine resistin inhibits adipogenesis and induces insulin resistance. Intrauterine growth-restricted (IUGR) neonates have reduced fat mass and changes of endocrine/metabolic mechanisms, predisposing to insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome in adult life. Objectives: To investigate plasma resistin concentrations in maternal, fetal and neonatal samples from IUGR and appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) pregnancies and correlate them with respective insulin concentrations. Methods: Plasma resistin and insulin concentrations were determined in 40 mothers and their 20 IUGR and 20 AGA singleton full-term fetuses and neonates on postnatal day 1 (N1) and day 4 (N4). Results: No significant differences in resistin concentrations were observed between AGA and IUGR groups. In the AGA group, maternal resistin concentrations were significantly lower compared to fetal, N1 and N4 ones (p = 0.003, p = 0.017 and p = 0.039, respectively). Maternal resistin concentrations positively correlated with fetal ones (r = 0.527, p = 0.02). In the IUGR group, maternal resistin concentrations were significantly lower compared to N1 (p < 0.001) and positively correlated with N4 concentrations (r = 0.626, p = 0.007). In both groups, the effect of gender, mode of delivery, parity and adjusted birth weight (customized centiles) on resistin concentrations was not significant. No correlation between resistin and insulin concentrations was documented. Conclusions: Lack of difference in resistin concentrations between IUGR and AGA groups, and lack of correlation between resistin and insulin concentrations as well as customized centiles, possibly suggests that resistin may not be directly involved in the regulation of insulin sensitivity and adipogenesis in the perinatal period. Mode of delivery and parity are not associated with circulating resistin concentrations.

Intrauterine growth restriction and adult disease: the role of adipocytokines

“…Furthermore, resistin is expressed in the human placenta and has been postulated to play a role in regulating energy metabolism in pregnancy (146,147). Recent reports, including our data (40,139,148), have also demonstrated the presence of markedly high concentrations of resistin in umbilical plasma samples, indicating the potential role of this adipocytokine in controlling fetal energy homeostasis and affecting deposition of adipose tissue in utero.…”

“…Recent studies from our group, investigating resistin and apelin concentrations in the IUGR state, demonstrated lack of differences in resistin and apelin concentrations between IUGR cases and AGA controls and lack of correlation between resistin, as well as apelin with insulin concentrations, as well as customized centiles (adjusted birth weights) of the studied infants (139,140). We speculate that resistin and apelin may not be directly involved in the regulation of insulin sensitivity and adipogenesis in the perinatal period (139,140).…”

“…We speculate that resistin and apelin may not be directly involved in the regulation of insulin sensitivity and adipogenesis in the perinatal period (139,140). Visfatin, a 52 kDa protein, has been recently identified as a visceral fat-specific adipocytokine (155), probably linking the expansion of adipose depot to insulin resistance (156).…”

Influence of prematurity and growth restriction on the adipokine profile, IGF1, and ghrelin levels in cord blood: relationship with glucose metabolism

“…As resistin stimulates IL-6 and TNF-a synthesis (47), the positive correlation found between these three molecules could indicate their parallel increase in a proinflammatory environment. Furthermore, as there are no differences in resistin levels between SGA and AGA newborns (48) and its levels show no correlation with weight or parameters of carbohydrate metabolism, it is difficult to speculate on any other specific role for resistin in fetal physiology.…”

Resistin levels in preterms: are they influenced by fetal inflammatory course?

“…15 Its levels in neonates changed between 8 and 21 ng ml -1 , 12,15,17 and were reported to be higher than maternal levels. 15,18 It was also detected in amniotic fluid starting from the 14th week of gestation in which levels increased with advancing gestational age and at term the levels reached to 23.6 ng ml -1 . 19 However, there are conflicting results about the relationship between resistin levels and gestational age of the neonates.…”