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Abstract Title
Diabetes Mellitus during Pregnancy: The role of the maternal gut flora for the
regulation of metabolic and inflammatory responses
Author : Lars Hedin, Associate Professor (M.D., Ph.D.)
Co Authors : Maha Al-Asmakh, Ph.D. student (M.Sc.); Sven Pettersson,
Abstract Information:-
pregnancy is characterized by an increase in insulin resistance, due not only to hormones produced
by the placenta, but also to the activation of the maternal immune system and the production of
pro-inflammatory factors.
the placenta plays a key role for the maternal/fetal metabolism and immune interactions, and
directly regulates fetal nutrient supply, fetal growth and programming. impairment of glucose
metabolism during pregnancy gestational diabetes mellitus; GDM), often associated with obesity
(an escalating global health problem), will affect not only the mother, but also the placenta and
the fetus. placental dysfunctions will result in both short- and long-term consequences for the
off spring with increased risk for perinatal morbidities and chronic diseases in adult hood (e.g.
cardiovascular diseases, obesity, DM).
the gut microbiota exerts a strong influence on the metabolic phenotype of the host and
participates in extensive microbial-mammalian co-metabolism and interaction with the host’s
immune system. this study examines the role of the gut flora for the cell- and organ specific
expression and regulation of inflammatory responses, in placenta and maternal tissues (muscle,
adipose tissue, liver, brain) of normal pregnancies and in pregnancies with impaired glucose
metabolism. preliminary experiments have demonstrated that pregnant, germ-free mice exhibit
an altered inflammatory profile compared to normal, pregnant mice.
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