Continuous elevation of plasma asprosin in pregnant women complicated with gestational diabetes mellitus: A nested case-control study

Introduction: To investigate the expression of asprosin, a novel insulin resistance-related factor, in plasma and placenta of pregnant women with and without gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Methods: This is a nested case-control study within the prospective study named Early Diagnosis of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (EDoGDM). Forty pregnant women with GDM and forty control cases with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) were recruited in the present study. Asprosin levels were tested by ELISA in maternal plasma at 18-20 and 24-28 gestational weeks and before delivery, as well as in umbilical plasma. Asprosin concentrations were compared between GDM and NGT groups, and the relationship between asprosin and other parameters were analyzed. Expression of asprosin in placenta was examined by Western blot and immunohistochemistry. Results: Asprosin was elevated in plasma of GDM pregnant women and their offspring, after adjusted by maternal and neonatal clinical characteristics and lipid profiles. Asprosin was expressed in placenta from both GDM and NGT pregnant women. Discussion: Protein asprosin is expressed in human placenta and is elevated in the plasma of pregnant women complicated with GDM and their offspring. As an insulin resistance-related factor increased before 20 gestational weeks, asprosin may play a role as a potential early biomarker of GDM.