epidermal-growth-factor and Fetal-Macrosomia

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a form of diabetes that occurs during pregnancy. GDM is a well known risk factor for foetal overgrowth, termed macrosomia which is influenced by maternal hypergycemia and endocrine status through placental circulation. The study was undertaken to investigate the implication of growth factors and their receptors in GDM and macrosomia, and to discuss the role of the materno-foeto-placental axis in the in-utero regulation of foetal growth.. 30 women with GDM and their 30 macrosomic babies (4.75 +/- 0.15 kg), and 30 healthy age-matched pregnant women and their 30 newborns (3.50 +/- 0.10 kg) were recruited in the present study. Serum concentrations of GH and growth factors, i.e., IGF-I, IGF-BP3, FGF-2, EGF and PDGF-B were determined by ELISA. The expression of mRNA encoding for GH, IGF-I, IGF-BP3, FGF-2, PDGF-B and EGF, and their receptors, i.e., GHR, IGF-IR, FGF-2R, EGFR and PDGFR-beta were quantified by using RT-qPCR.. The serum concentrations of IGF-I, IGF-BP3, EGF, FGF-2 and PDGF-B were higher in GDM women and their macrosomic babies as compared to their respective controls. The placental mRNA expression of the growth factors was either upregulated (FGF-2 or PDGF-B) or remained unaltered (IGF-I and EGF) in the placenta of GDM women. The mRNA expression of three growth factor receptors, i.e., IGF-IR, EGFR and PDGFR-beta, was upregulated in the placenta of GDM women. Interestingly, serum concentrations of GH were downregulated in the GDM women and their macrosomic offspring. Besides, the expression of mRNAs encoding for GHR was higher, but that encoding for GH was lower, in the placenta of GDM women than control women.. Our results demonstrate that growth factors might be implicated in GDM and, in part, in the pathology of macrosomia via materno-foeto-placental axis.

Topics: Adult; Case-Control Studies; Diabetes, Gestational; Epidermal Growth Factor; Female; Fetal Macrosomia; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; Growth Hormone; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; Placenta; Pregnancy; Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor beta; RNA, Messenger; Tunisia; Up-Regulation

Epidermal growth factor is a ubiquitous mitogen that also possesses insulin-like properties. Fetal mal-growth is associated with altered epidermal growth factor levels. Maternal diabetes is frequently complicated by macrosomia, but the effect of maternal diabetes on fetal epidermal growth factor levels is not known. We studied cord serum epidermal growth factor concentrations in pregnancies complicated by diabetes and in normal pregnancies.. Cord serum epidermal growth factor concentrations were measured at birth by a sandwich-type time-resolved immunofluorometric assay in 63 pregnancies complicated by insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, in 25 pregnancies complicated by insulin-treated gestational diabetes, and in 56 normal pregnancies.. Cord serum epidermal growth factor correlated positively with the duration of pregnancy in diabetic and normal pregnancies. In a subgroup of women at similar gestational ages (38-39 weeks), cord serum epidermal growth factor concentrations were higher in pregnancies complicated by insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (962 +/- 211 ng/L, P =.047; n = 9) and in pregnancies complicated by gestational diabetes (1133 +/- 115 ng/L, P =.001; n = 9) than in controls (564 +/- 75 ng/L; n = 22). In multiple regression analysis, only umbilical artery hemoglobin in diabetic pregnancies and vaginal delivery in normal pregnancies were associated with cord serum epidermal growth factor.. Epidermal growth factor concentrations are higher than normal in fetuses of diabetic mothers at term. Pregnancy complications, such as hypertensive disorders, fetal hypoxia and fetal malgrowth, may not explain the rise in epidermal growth factor levels. We hypothesize that the rise in epidermal growth factor levels is a metabolic response of the fetoplacental unit to diabetes-related hyperglycemia.. III

Topics: Adult; Analysis of Variance; Biomarkers; Case-Control Studies; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1; Diabetes, Gestational; Epidermal Growth Factor; Female; Fetal Blood; Fetal Macrosomia; Gestational Age; Humans; Maternal Age; Pregnancy; Pregnancy in Diabetics; Pregnancy Outcome; Pregnancy, High-Risk; Probability; Reference Values; Regression Analysis; Risk Assessment

To investigate the relationship of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and its receptor (EGFR) with fetal birth weight.. Using enzyme linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA) method the EGF concentrations of materal sera, cord blood sera and amniotic fluids were determined in 40 cases with IUGR, 40 cases with term normal birth weight, 25 cases with fetal macrosomias and 15 cases with normal non-pregnant women. Simultaneously using the immunohistochemical method EGFR in placentas and fetal membrance was determined in all groups of pregnancy.. The EGF levels in normal non-pregnant women were lower than that in all groups of pregnancy. The EGF concentrations of materal sera, cord blood sera and amniotic fluid in IUGR group were lower than that in normal birth weight group. EGF levels were no difference between fetal macrosomias group and normal birth weight group. There is a positive correlation between the fetal birth weight and EGF concentrations in maternal sera, cord blood sera and amniotic fluids. In IUGR group the number of EGFR in placent and fetal membrane was less than that in normal birth weight group. In macrosomia group placental EGFR number was more than that in normal birth weight group.. EGF and its receptor levels are related with IUGR, EGF concentrations in maternal sera and amniotic fluids in the third trimester may be a valuable index for assessing the fetal growth.

Topics: Adult; Amniotic Fluid; Birth Weight; Epidermal Growth Factor; ErbB Receptors; Female; Fetal Blood; Fetal Growth Retardation; Fetal Macrosomia; Humans; Pregnancy