title: Adipokines vaspin and omentin-1 are up-regulated in large for gestational age infants at term.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Large- (LGA) and appropriate-for-gestational age (AGA) infants differ in body fat mass and metabolic/endocrine mechanisms. We aimed to investigate in LGA and AGA infants possible alterations in cord blood levels of insulin and the adipokines vaspin and omentin-1 which are secreted by the adipose tissue and are implicated in insulin resistance/metabolic syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cord blood vaspin, omentin-1 and insulin levels were prospectively measured in 61 LGA and 36 AGA singleton full-term infants. Of the LGA group 13 infants were born from diabetic and 48 from non-diabetic mothers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cord blood vaspin and omentin-1 levels were significantly higher in LGA compared with AGA neonates (p = 0.021 and b = 0.115, SE 0.037, p = 0.002, respectively). Umbilical cord omentin-1 levels were significantly decreased in neonates delivered vaginally (b = -0.075, SE 0.031, p = 0.016), after controlling for group. Insulin levels increased in proportion to the customized centiles of the infants (b = 0.004, SE = 0.001, p = 0.009). Finally, in the LGA group vaspin levels correlated with omentin-1 serum levels (r = 0.318, p = 0.013).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The increased levels of vaspin observed in LGA infants compared with AGA ones, possibly represent a defensive mechanism against insulin/glucose dysregulation, commonly seen in the former. In addition, the increased omentin-1 levels in the LGA group could possibly reflect the amount of developing adipose tissue in the early stages of life in this group. Alternatively, these levels could reflect the growth-promoting effect of omentin-1 in the fetus. The inflammation associated with vaginal deliveries may account for the lower cord blood omentin-1 levels in neonates delivered by this mode.
authors.affiliation: Neonatal Division, 2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Athens University, Medical School, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kafalidis
authors.forename: Theodora
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Boutsikou
authors.forename: Despina D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Briana
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boutsikou
authors.forename: Antonios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marmarinos
authors.forename: Stavroula
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baka
authors.forename: Demetrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hassiakos
authors.forename: Demetrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gourgiotis
authors.forename: Ariadne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Malamitsi-Puchner
mesh_terms: D001724:Birth Weight; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D003710:Demography; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000378:metabolism; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins / Q000097:blood; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D037102:Lectins / Q000097:blood*; D015843:Serpins / Q000097:blood*; D047929:Term Birth / Q000097:blood*; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; C432397:ITLN1 protein, human; D007328:Insulin; D037102:Lectins; C507339:SERPINA12 protein, human; D015843:Serpins