title: Cytokines and their association with insulin resistance in obese pregnant women with different levels of physical activity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cytokines contribute to insulin resistance in pregnancy, but the role of distinct cytokines is not fully understood.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study whether cytokines produced by tissues other than skeletal muscle are associated with glucose and insulin metabolism activity in overweight and obese women and to study whether these associations can be modified by physical activity.
  
  
  METHODS
  A longitudinal study with 44 overweight and obese pregnant women was conducted. Changes in cytokines levels (IFN-γ, IP-10, IL1-α, MIP1-α, adiponectin and leptin) and ICAM1 from early (15wk) to late (32wk) pregnancy were determined. Physical activity was measured objectively with accelerometers. In linear regression models, the associations between (changes in) cytokine levels and fasting glucose, fasting insulin and HOMA-IR were studied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both IFN-γ and IP-10 levels increased from early to late pregnancy, and adiponectin levels decreased. IFN-γ and IP-10 were positively associated with fasting glucose, whereas IL-1α, ICAM1 and adiponectin were inversely associated with insulin and insulin resistance. The association of IL-1α with insulin and insulin resistance was only found in women with low levels of physical activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IFN-γ, IP-10, IL1-α, ICAM1, and adiponectin may play a role in glucose and insulin metabolism in pregnancy. The relationship of IL-1α with insulin and insulin resistance might be moderated by levels of physical activity. Further studies are required to confirm the role of these cytokines in glucose and insulin metabolism in obese pregnant women.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Public and Occupational Health, EMGO[+] Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Centre, Van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Minakshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nayak
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Endocrinology, VU University Medical Centre, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marelise E W
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Eekhoff
authors.affiliation: Inst. of Exp. and Clin. Pharmacology, Medical University of Graz, Universitätsplatz 4, 8010 Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Peinhaupt
authors.affiliation: Inst. of Exp. and Clin. Pharmacology, Medical University of Graz, Universitätsplatz 4, 8010 Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Akos
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Heinemann
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 14, 8036 Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Gernot
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Desoye
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Public and Occupational Health, EMGO[+] Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Centre, Van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Institute of Sport Science, University of Graz, Mozartgasse 14, 8010 Graz, Austria. Electronic address: mireille.van-poppel@uni-graz.at.
authors.forename: Mireille N M
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: van Poppel
mesh_terms: D061725:Accelerometry; D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D054357:Chemokine CXCL10 / Q000097:blood; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005215:Fasting / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D053582:Interleukin-1alpha / Q000097:blood; D016014:Linear Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D050177:Overweight / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; C114753:CXCL10 protein, human; D054357:Chemokine CXCL10; D016207:Cytokines; C573420:ICAM1 protein, human; D007328:Insulin; D053582:Interleukin-1alpha; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D007371:Interferon-gamma
keywords: Cytokines; Insulin resistance; Pregnancy