title: Perinatal Oxidative Stress May Affect Fetal Ghrelin Levels in Humans.
abstract: In vitro cell model studies have shown that oxidative stress may affect beta-cell function. It is unknown whether oxidative stress may affect metabolic health in human fetuses/newborns. In a singleton pregnancy cohort (n = 248), we studied maternal (24-28 weeks gestation) and cord plasma biomarkers of oxidative stress [malondialdehyde (MDA), F2-isoprostanes] in relation to fetal metabolic health biomarkers including cord plasma glucose-to-insulin ratio (an indicator of insulin sensitivity), proinsulin-to-insulin ratio (an indicator of beta-cell function), insulin, IGF-I, IGF-II, leptin, adiponectin and ghrelin concentrations. Strong positive correlations were observed between maternal and cord plasma biomarkers of oxidative stress (r = 0.33 for MDA, r = 0.74 for total F2-isoprostanes, all p < 0.0001). Adjusting for gestational age at blood sampling, cord plasma ghrelin concentrations were consistently negatively correlated to oxidative stress biomarkers in maternal (r = -0.32, p < 0.0001 for MDA; r = -0.31, p < 0.0001 for F2-isoprostanes) or cord plasma (r = -0.13, p = 0.04 for MDA; r = -0.32, p < 0.0001 for F2-isoprostanes). Other fetal metabolic health biomarkers were not correlated to oxidative stress. Adjusting for maternal and pregnancy characteristics, similar associations were observed. Our study provides the first preliminary evidence suggesting that oxidative stress may affect fetal ghrelin levels in humans. The implications in developmental "programming" the vulnerability to metabolic syndrome related disorders remain to be elucidated.
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao-Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China 200092.|Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada H3T 1C5.
authors.forename: Zhong-Cheng
authors.initials: ZC
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: Departments of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine, Medicine University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada H3T 1C5.
authors.forename: Jean-François
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Bilodeau
authors.affiliation: Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nutrition University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada H3T 1C5.
authors.forename: Anne Monique
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Nuyt
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada J1H 5N4.
authors.forename: William D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Fraser
authors.affiliation: Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Molecular and Oncologic Endocrinology and Human Genomics Research Center, Quebec City, Canada G1V 4G2.|Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Research Center, Laval University, Quebec City, Canada G1V 4G2.
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Julien
authors.affiliation: Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada H3T 1C5.
authors.forename: Francois
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Audibert
authors.affiliation: Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada H3T 1C5.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.affiliation: Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sainte-Justine Hospital Research Center, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada H3T 1C5.
authors.forename: Carole
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Garofalo
authors.affiliation: Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sainte-Justine Hospital Research Center, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada H3T 1C5.
authors.forename: Emile
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Levy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers; D028441:F2-Isoprostanes / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000378:metabolism; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism*; D005865:Gestational Age; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D028441:F2-Isoprostanes; D054439:Ghrelin; D008315:Malondialdehyde