title: Gestational diabetes mellitus is associated with increased leukocyte peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ expression.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) is a ligand-activated transcription factor of the nuclear receptor superfamily that is involved in lipid and carbohydrate metabolism as well as inflammation; thereby it participates in metabolic diseases including diabetes. Although PPARγ expression has been observed in different tissues of diabetic patients, its level in leukocytes from subjects affected by gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has not yet been reported. This study aimed to investigate leukocyte PPARG expression in GDM patients at 24-33 weeks of gestation and, in turn, to correlate these alterations with anthropometric and metabolic parameters of patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Leukocytes were isolated from the blood of normal glucose tolerant (NGT; n = 34) and GDM (n = 77) pregnant women between 24 and 33 weeks of gestation. Leukocyte PPARG mRNA expression was determined by semi-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Univariate correlation analysis was performed to investigate associations between PPARG expression and clinical characteristics of patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Leukocyte PPARG mRNA level was significantly higher in GDM than NGT women (p < 0.05). In the whole study group, PPARG expression positively correlated with plasma glucose concentrations at 1 h (r = 0.222, p = 0.049) and 2 h (r = 0.315, p = 0.020) of 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), and negatively correlated with plasma HDL cholesterol concentration (r = -0.351, p = 0.010).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The correlation between leukocyte PPARG overexpression and hyperglycaemia suggests that PPARG mRNA expression in these cells might be up-regulated in high-glucose conditions in GDM patients at 24-33 weeks of gestation.
authors: Department of Structural Biology, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
authors: Marzena
authors: M
authors: Wójcik
authors: Department of Structural Biology, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
authors: Katarzyna
authors: K
authors: Mac-Marcjanek
authors: Polish Mother's Memorial Hospital, Research Institute, Lodz, Poland.
authors: Iwona
authors: I
authors: Nadel
authors: Department of Structural Biology, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
authors: Lucyna
authors: L
authors: Woźniak
authors: Polish Mother's Memorial Hospital, Research Institute, Lodz, Poland ; Diabetology and Metabolic Diseases Department, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
authors: Katarzyna
authors: K
authors: Cypryk
keywords: PPARγ; gestational diabetes mellitus; insulin resistance; type 2 diabetes mellitus