Transcriptomic Profiling of Rectus Abdominis Muscle in Women with Gestational Diabetes-Induced Myopathy: Characterization of Pathophysiology and Potential Muscle Biomarkers of Pregnancy-Specific Urinary Incontinence

Abstract

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is recognized as a “window of opportunity” for the future prediction of such complications as type 2 diabetes mellitus and pelvic floor muscle disorders, including urinary incontinence and genitourinary dysfunction. Translational studies have reported that pelvic floor muscle disorders are due to a GDM-induced-myopathy (GDiM) of the pelvic floor muscle and rectus abdominis muscle (RAM). We now describe the transcriptome profiling of the RAM obtained by Cesarean section from GDM and non-GDM women with and without pregnancy-specific urinary incontinence (PSUI). We identified 650 genes in total, and the differentially expressed genes were defined by comparing three control groups to the GDM with PSUI group (GDiM). Enrichment analysis showed that GDM with PSUI was associated with decreased gene expression related to muscle structure and muscle protein synthesis, the reduced ability of muscle fibers to ameliorate muscle damage, and the altered the maintenance and generation of energy through glycogenesis. Potential genetic muscle biomarkers were validated by RT-PCR, and their relationship to the pathophysiology of the disease was verified. These findings help elucidate the molecular mechanisms of GDiM and will promote the development of innovative interventions to prevent and treat complications such as post-GDM urinary incontinence.

New Advances in Diabetes Genetics

“…The molecular diagnosis is fundamental in rare forms to choose the appropriate treatment, to reduce the risk of consequences, and for genetic counselling. This Special Issue contains two reviews [ 1 , 2 ], three original papers [ 3 , 4 , 5 ], and one case report [ 6 ] that address genetic issues in diabetes mellitus.…”

“…The DIAMATER study cohort is a prospective cohort recruited to investigate the biomolecular muscle profile as predictor of long-term urinary incontinence in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). In this Special Issue, Alves et al [ 6 ] describe the transcriptome profiling of the rectus abdominis muscle obtained via caesarean section from pregnant women with or without GDM and with or without pregnancy-specific urinary incontinence. They describe 650 genes showing different levels of expression, providing evidence for further studies to develop innovative and targeted strategies to prevent and to treat complications such complication.…”