Role of placental fibrinogen-like protein 1 in gestational diabetes

Kang, Lin; Li, Hung-Yuan; Ou, Horng-Yih; Wu, Pensee; Wang, Shu-Huei; Chang, Chih-Jen; Lin, Shin-Yu; Wu, Chao-Liang; Wu, Hung-Tsung

Abstract

In view of the increasing prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and the increased risks of delivering a macrosomic infant, developing preeclampsia, and suffering a perinatal death due to GDM, GDM has emerged as a growing public health problem. Although the placenta was suggested to play a crucial role in the pathology of GDM, the mechanisms that induce the development of GDM are still obscure. Fibrinogen-like protein (FGL)-1 is a hepatokine that plays an important role in hepatogenesis, as well as in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and diabetes. Although FGL-1 is also expressed by the placenta, the pathophysiological role of FGL-1 in GDM is still unknown. In this study, FGL-1 levels were evaluated in 45 subjects with (n = 16) or without (n = 29) GDM. We found that FGL-1 was mainly expressed by placental trophoblasts, and FGL-1 expression was significantly higher in subjects with GDM. FGL-1 increased trophoblast proliferation through an extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2-dependent pathway. In addition, plasma concentrations of FGL-1 were higher in subjects with GDM, and the increased circulating FGL-1 might contribute to systemic insulin resistance. FGL-1 disrupted the gluconeogenic action of insulin in HepG2 cells, and decreased insulin-induced glucose uptake by L6 myotubes. Taken together, placental FGL-1 possibly plays a role in the impairment of insulin function in the development of GDM, and it might be a novel biomarker for diagnosing GDM.

Citation

Kang, L., Li, H., Ou, H., Wu, P., Wang, S., Chang, C., …Wu, H. (2020). Role of placental fibrinogen-like protein 1 in gestational diabetes. Translational Research, The Journal of Laboratory and Clinical Medicine, 218, 73-80. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trsl.2020.01.001

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: 2020-04
• Deposit Date: Jun 27, 2023
• Journal: Translational Research
• Print ISSN: 1931-5244
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 218
• Pages: 73-80
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trsl.2020.01.001