Cord blood ASP is predicted by maternal lipids and correlates with fetal birth weight.
BACKGROUND
The acylation stimulating protein (ASP) is a potent lipogenic adipokine that correlates with postprandial triglyceride (TG) clearance and is linked to the pathophysiology of obesity and related disorders.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate ASP levels in cord blood and its relation to maternal and cord blood lipid parameters and fetal birth weight.


METHODS
Thirty nondiabetic pregnant women, their newborns, and thirty-three nonpregnant controls were included in this study. Fasting maternal and cord blood ASP, TGs, nonesterified fatty acids (NEFAs), cholesterol, glucose levels, in addition to maternal BMI and fetal birth weight were measured.


RESULTS
No significant difference was found between cord blood ASP (16.3 +/- 0.96 nmol/l) and ASP levels in the adult controls (15.7 +/- 1.0 nmol/l). Cord blood ASP, however, was lower than maternal plasma ASP levels (25.4 +/- 1.6 nmol/l, P < 0.001). Yet, lipid levels in cord blood, particularly TGs were markedly decreased compared to control and maternal TG levels (threefold and 7.4-fold, P < 0.001 respectively). Maternal TGs significantly correlated with fetal birth weight (r = 0.54, P = 0.002). Multiple regression analysis showed that maternal TGs (beta = 0.57, P = 0.01) and NEFAs (beta = 0.43, P = 0.024) predicted 45% variation in cord blood ASP levels, independent of all measured maternal and cord blood parameters. Cord blood ASP showed a positive correlation with fetal birth weight (r = 0.524, P = 0.037) in neonates above average fetal birth weight of the studied population.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first study investigating ASP in cord blood. We suggest that maternal hypertriglyceridemia is associated with increased fetal ASP production, thus enhancing fetal fat storage independent of maternal glucose variations in nondiabetic women.
Saleh
Jumana
J
Department of Biochemistry, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman. jumana@squ.edu.om
Al-Riyami
Hamed D S
HD
Chaudhary
Taqdees A
TA
Cianflone
Katherine
K
D054392:Adipokines / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000032:analysis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D015228:Hypertriglyceridemia / Q000097:blood; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D054392:Adipokines; D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D003176:Complement C3; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D008055:Lipids; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol