title: Inflammation in maternal obesity and gestational diabetes mellitus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The prevalence of maternal obesity is rising rapidly worldwide and constitutes a major obstetric problem, increasing mortality and morbidity in both mother and offspring. Obese women are predisposed to pregnancy complications such as gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), and children of obese mothers are more likely to develop cardiovascular and metabolic disease in later life. Maternal obesity and GDM may be associated with a state of chronic, low-grade inflammation termed "metainflammation", as opposed to an acute inflammatory response. This inflammatory environment may be one mechanism by which offspring of obese women are programmed to develop adult disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  Herein we review the evidence that maternal obesity and GDM are associated with changes in the maternal, fetal and placental inflammatory profile.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Maternal inflammation in obesity and GDM may not always be associated with fetal inflammation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We propose that the placenta 'senses' and adapts to the maternal inflammatory environment, and plays a central role as both a target and producer of inflammatory mediators. In this manner, maternal obesity and GDM may indirectly program the fetus for later disease by influencing placental function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Section of Neonatology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA. Electronic address: priyadarshini.pantham@ucdenver.edu.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pantham
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA.
authors.forename: I L M H
authors.initials: IL
authors.lastname: Aye
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Section of Neonatology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA.
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Powell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000503:physiopathology; D007249:Inflammation / Q000150:complications* / Q000196:embryology / Q000503:physiopathology; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications*; D010920:Placenta / Q000503:physiopathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D002097:C-Reactive Protein
keywords: Cytokines; Gestational diabetes mellitus; Metainflammation; Obesity; Placenta