Role of VEGF_165b/VEGF_TOTAL ratio in gestational diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Proper vascular function is important for well-being of mother and growing fetus. VEGF_TOTAL, and VEGF_165b levels and its vascular endothelial complications in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) together with the association of inflammation and advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are less studied. VEGF_165b/VEGF_TOTAL (VEGF RATIO) in GDM pregnant women was investigated in this study. Plasma VEGF_TOTAL was lower in GDM (17.68 ± 1.30 pg/mL) compared to non-GDM (25.69 ± 1.40 pg/mL). VEGF_165b, ICAM-1, and AGEs were higher in GDM (9.9 ± 1.4 pg/mL, 201.04 ± 7.85 µg/mL, and 10.40 ± 0.98 µg/mL, respectively) and lower in non-GDM (6.47 ± 0.70 pg/mL, 174.1 ± 7.11 µg/mL, and 4.71 ± 0.39 µg/mL, respectively). Compared to non GDM (0.25 ± 0.02), VEGF RATIO was higher in GDM (0.45 ± 0.04) and correlated with -ICAM-1 (r = 0.375, p < .001) and AGEs (r = 0.199, p < .05). Tertile stratification of VEGF RATIO implied that frequency of GDM increases with increasing tertiles of VEGF RATIO (p for trend <.001). Association of VEGF RATIO with GDM was significant even after adjusting for AGEs (OR = 1.279, CI = 1.118–1.462, p < .0010) but it lost its significance when adjusted for ICAM-1 (OR = 1.006, CI = 0.995–1.017, p = .308). VEGF RATIO plays an important role in GDM in association with vascular inflammation.

Chinese abstract

良好的血管功能对于母亲的健康和胎儿的生长很重要。目前有关VEGF_TOTAL、VEGF_165b水平和其在妊娠期糖尿病（GDM）血管内皮并发症中作用以及炎症与糖基化终产物（AGEs）关联的研究较少。该课题研究了GDM孕妇中的VEGF_165b/VEGF_TOTAL（VEGF比率）。与非GDM（25.69 ± 1.40pg/mL）相比, GDM患者血浆VEGF_TOTAL较低（17.68 ± 1.30pg/mL）。VEGF _165b, ICAM-1和AGEs在GDM患者中较高（分别为9.9 ± 1.4pg/mL, 201.04 ± 7.85 mg/mL和10.40 ± 0.98mg/mL）, 而在非GDM患者中较低（6.47 ± 0.70pg/mL）, 分别为174.1 ± 7.11mg/mL和4.71 ± 0.39mg/mL。与非GDM（0.25 ± 0.02）相比, GDM患者VEGF比率更高（0.45 ± 0.04）并且与-ICAM-1（r = 0.375, p <.001）和AGEs（r = 0.199, p <.05）相关。 VEGF 比率的三分位分层表明GDM的频率随着VEGF 比率的三分位数的增加而增加（p趋势<.001）。 VEGF比率与GDM的关联即使在矫正AGEs后也是显著的（OR = 1.279, CI = 1.118-1.462, p <.0010）但在矫正ICAM-1后无显著性（OR = 1.006, CI = 0.995-1.017） , p = .308）。 VEGF比率在GDM中与血管炎症相关, 起重要作用。

Keywords:

• VEGF
• ICAM-1
• AGEs
• GDM
• vascular inflammation

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The authors acknowledge ICMR-DHR funded project DHR/HRD/Young Scientist/Type-VI (4)/2015 for funding this study and SASTRA Deemed to be University, Thanjavur for infrastructure.