The Role of IL-6 and TNF-α as Early Biomarkers in the Prediction and Diagnosis of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) occurs in approximately 9–25% of pregnancies and, if left undiagnosed or inadequately controlled, can lead to adverse outcomes for both the mother and the fetus, short and long term. GDM is characterized by glucose intolerance with onset or first recognition durin...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-07-01
|
| Series: | Biomedicines |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/13/7/1627 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849407705046843392 |
|---|---|
| author | Antonia Varthaliti Vasilios Lygizos Maria Fanaki Vasilios Pergialiotis Angeliki Papapanagiotou Kalliopi Pappa Marianna Theodora Maria Anastasia Daskalaki Panos Antsaklis George Daskalakis |
| author_facet | Antonia Varthaliti Vasilios Lygizos Maria Fanaki Vasilios Pergialiotis Angeliki Papapanagiotou Kalliopi Pappa Marianna Theodora Maria Anastasia Daskalaki Panos Antsaklis George Daskalakis |
| author_sort | Antonia Varthaliti |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) occurs in approximately 9–25% of pregnancies and, if left undiagnosed or inadequately controlled, can lead to adverse outcomes for both the mother and the fetus, short and long term. GDM is characterized by glucose intolerance with onset or first recognition during pregnancy and is a multifactorial condition with a pathophysiology that remains incompletely understood. It is strongly associated with a chronic low-grade inflammatory state that contributes to insulin resistance, a hallmark of GDM pathogenesis. Among the fundamental pro-inflammatory cytokines implicated in this process, TNF-α and IL-6 play central roles. TNF-α is a cytokine primarily secreted by activated macrophages, as well as by adipocytes in the context of obesity. Many studies have shown that its levels are elevated in pregnant women with GDM compared to normoglycemic pregnant individuals. IL-6 is another pro-inflammatory cytokine secreted by immune cells, adipose tissue, and the placenta. It is found in higher concentrations in the maternal circulation during pregnancies complicated by GDM. Both TNF-α and IL-6 act synergistically to perpetuate a pro-inflammatory intrauterine environment. Their combined effects exacerbate insulin resistance and may impair pancreatic β-cell compensation during pregnancy, facilitating the onset of GDM in genetically or metabolically susceptible individuals. Recent research has identified various maternal serum biomarkers, such as TNF-α and IL-6, that may hold promise for the early detection of GDM. The aim of our study is to evaluate whether TNF-α and IL-6 can be used as diagnostic tools for the early diagnosis of GDM, allowing for timely intervention and reducing the risk of associated maternal and fetal complications. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-305534fe64a548a89732fe31dcf65432 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2227-9059 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biomedicines |
| spelling | doaj-art-305534fe64a548a89732fe31dcf654322025-08-20T03:35:58ZengMDPI AGBiomedicines2227-90592025-07-01137162710.3390/biomedicines13071627The Role of IL-6 and TNF-α as Early Biomarkers in the Prediction and Diagnosis of Gestational Diabetes MellitusAntonia Varthaliti0Vasilios Lygizos1Maria Fanaki2Vasilios Pergialiotis3Angeliki Papapanagiotou4Kalliopi Pappa5Marianna Theodora6Maria Anastasia Daskalaki7Panos Antsaklis8George Daskalakis91st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Alexandra” General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 80 Vasilissis Sofias Avenue, 11528 Athens, Greece1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Alexandra” General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 80 Vasilissis Sofias Avenue, 11528 Athens, Greece1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Alexandra” General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 80 Vasilissis Sofias Avenue, 11528 Athens, Greece1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Alexandra” General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 80 Vasilissis Sofias Avenue, 11528 Athens, GreeceDepartment of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15772 Athens, Greece1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Alexandra” General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 80 Vasilissis Sofias Avenue, 11528 Athens, Greece1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Alexandra” General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 80 Vasilissis Sofias Avenue, 11528 Athens, Greece1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Alexandra” General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 80 Vasilissis Sofias Avenue, 11528 Athens, Greece1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Alexandra” General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 80 Vasilissis Sofias Avenue, 11528 Athens, Greece1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Alexandra” General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 80 Vasilissis Sofias Avenue, 11528 Athens, GreeceGestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) occurs in approximately 9–25% of pregnancies and, if left undiagnosed or inadequately controlled, can lead to adverse outcomes for both the mother and the fetus, short and long term. GDM is characterized by glucose intolerance with onset or first recognition during pregnancy and is a multifactorial condition with a pathophysiology that remains incompletely understood. It is strongly associated with a chronic low-grade inflammatory state that contributes to insulin resistance, a hallmark of GDM pathogenesis. Among the fundamental pro-inflammatory cytokines implicated in this process, TNF-α and IL-6 play central roles. TNF-α is a cytokine primarily secreted by activated macrophages, as well as by adipocytes in the context of obesity. Many studies have shown that its levels are elevated in pregnant women with GDM compared to normoglycemic pregnant individuals. IL-6 is another pro-inflammatory cytokine secreted by immune cells, adipose tissue, and the placenta. It is found in higher concentrations in the maternal circulation during pregnancies complicated by GDM. Both TNF-α and IL-6 act synergistically to perpetuate a pro-inflammatory intrauterine environment. Their combined effects exacerbate insulin resistance and may impair pancreatic β-cell compensation during pregnancy, facilitating the onset of GDM in genetically or metabolically susceptible individuals. Recent research has identified various maternal serum biomarkers, such as TNF-α and IL-6, that may hold promise for the early detection of GDM. The aim of our study is to evaluate whether TNF-α and IL-6 can be used as diagnostic tools for the early diagnosis of GDM, allowing for timely intervention and reducing the risk of associated maternal and fetal complications.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/13/7/1627gestational diabetes mellitusdiagnosisbiomarkersIL-6TNF-αpregnancy |
| spellingShingle | Antonia Varthaliti Vasilios Lygizos Maria Fanaki Vasilios Pergialiotis Angeliki Papapanagiotou Kalliopi Pappa Marianna Theodora Maria Anastasia Daskalaki Panos Antsaklis George Daskalakis The Role of IL-6 and TNF-α as Early Biomarkers in the Prediction and Diagnosis of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Biomedicines gestational diabetes mellitus diagnosis biomarkers IL-6 TNF-α pregnancy |
| title | The Role of IL-6 and TNF-α as Early Biomarkers in the Prediction and Diagnosis of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus |
| title_full | The Role of IL-6 and TNF-α as Early Biomarkers in the Prediction and Diagnosis of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus |
| title_fullStr | The Role of IL-6 and TNF-α as Early Biomarkers in the Prediction and Diagnosis of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Role of IL-6 and TNF-α as Early Biomarkers in the Prediction and Diagnosis of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus |
| title_short | The Role of IL-6 and TNF-α as Early Biomarkers in the Prediction and Diagnosis of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus |
| title_sort | role of il 6 and tnf α as early biomarkers in the prediction and diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus |
| topic | gestational diabetes mellitus diagnosis biomarkers IL-6 TNF-α pregnancy |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/13/7/1627 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT antoniavarthaliti theroleofil6andtnfaasearlybiomarkersinthepredictionanddiagnosisofgestationaldiabetesmellitus AT vasilioslygizos theroleofil6andtnfaasearlybiomarkersinthepredictionanddiagnosisofgestationaldiabetesmellitus AT mariafanaki theroleofil6andtnfaasearlybiomarkersinthepredictionanddiagnosisofgestationaldiabetesmellitus AT vasiliospergialiotis theroleofil6andtnfaasearlybiomarkersinthepredictionanddiagnosisofgestationaldiabetesmellitus AT angelikipapapanagiotou theroleofil6andtnfaasearlybiomarkersinthepredictionanddiagnosisofgestationaldiabetesmellitus AT kalliopipappa theroleofil6andtnfaasearlybiomarkersinthepredictionanddiagnosisofgestationaldiabetesmellitus AT mariannatheodora theroleofil6andtnfaasearlybiomarkersinthepredictionanddiagnosisofgestationaldiabetesmellitus AT mariaanastasiadaskalaki theroleofil6andtnfaasearlybiomarkersinthepredictionanddiagnosisofgestationaldiabetesmellitus AT panosantsaklis theroleofil6andtnfaasearlybiomarkersinthepredictionanddiagnosisofgestationaldiabetesmellitus AT georgedaskalakis theroleofil6andtnfaasearlybiomarkersinthepredictionanddiagnosisofgestationaldiabetesmellitus AT antoniavarthaliti roleofil6andtnfaasearlybiomarkersinthepredictionanddiagnosisofgestationaldiabetesmellitus AT vasilioslygizos roleofil6andtnfaasearlybiomarkersinthepredictionanddiagnosisofgestationaldiabetesmellitus AT mariafanaki roleofil6andtnfaasearlybiomarkersinthepredictionanddiagnosisofgestationaldiabetesmellitus AT vasiliospergialiotis roleofil6andtnfaasearlybiomarkersinthepredictionanddiagnosisofgestationaldiabetesmellitus AT angelikipapapanagiotou roleofil6andtnfaasearlybiomarkersinthepredictionanddiagnosisofgestationaldiabetesmellitus AT kalliopipappa roleofil6andtnfaasearlybiomarkersinthepredictionanddiagnosisofgestationaldiabetesmellitus AT mariannatheodora roleofil6andtnfaasearlybiomarkersinthepredictionanddiagnosisofgestationaldiabetesmellitus AT mariaanastasiadaskalaki roleofil6andtnfaasearlybiomarkersinthepredictionanddiagnosisofgestationaldiabetesmellitus AT panosantsaklis roleofil6andtnfaasearlybiomarkersinthepredictionanddiagnosisofgestationaldiabetesmellitus AT georgedaskalakis roleofil6andtnfaasearlybiomarkersinthepredictionanddiagnosisofgestationaldiabetesmellitus |