title: Increased chemerin concentrations in fetuses of obese mothers and correlation with maternal insulin sensitivity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine the effect of maternal obesity and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) on (i) the circulating concentrations of chemerin in cord and maternal plasma, and (ii) gene expression and release of chemerin from human placenta and adipose tissue.
  
  
  METHODS
  Chemerin concentrations were measured in maternal and cord plasma from 62 normal glucose tolerant women (NGT) and 69 women with GDM at the time of term elective Caesarean section. Placenta and adipose tissue expression and release of chemerin was measured from 22 NGT and 22 GDM women.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no effect of maternal obesity or GDM on maternal chemerin concentrations. Chemerin concentrations were significantly higher in cord plasma from women with maternal obesity. Cord chemerin concentrations in NGT women negatively correlated with the concentrations of maternal insulin sensitivity. There was no effect of GDM on maternal and cord chemerin concentrations, and on the release of chemerin from placenta and adipose tissue.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  At the time of term Caesarean section, preexisting maternal obesity, and its associated insulin resistance, is associated with higher cord plasma chemerin concentrations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Gillian
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Barker
authors.forename: Ratana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Gregory E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Rice
authors.forename: Martha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lappas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018925:Chemokines / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D018925:Chemokines; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; C478630:RARRES2 protein, human