Immunomodulatory markers in maternal and fetal blood and placental tissue from women with diabetes or mild gestational hyperglycemia

Abstract

Diabetes and hyperglycemia adversely affect the adaptation of the maternal immune system to pregnancy, impairing fetal immune development by mechanisms still not fully understood. OBJECTIVE - To assess immunoglobulins, cytokines and cells involved in the regulation and maintenance of pregnancy as immunomodulatory markers in umbilical cord blood, maternal blood, and placental tissue obtained from pregnancies complicated by either diabetes or mild hyperglycemia. METHOD - This cross-sectional study will include pregnant women with overt /gestational diabetes or mild hyperglycemia and their babies. Maternal blood collection will be performed at 37 weeks of gestation, before labor begins. Umbilical cord blood and placental tissue will be collected upon delivery. All samples will be processed according to specific protocols. Assessment will include : IgG concentration total by turbidimetry (ELISA); FcRn immunoglobulin G (IgG) receptor placental expression and linkage analysis (flow cytometry and immunoblotting); FAS ligand expression; cytokine immunophenotyping and quantification (flow cytometry). The relationship of placental concentrations of total IgG and IgG subclasses with fetal growth markers (Cord insulin and glucose, birth weigh and ponderal índex, placental índex and weight, weight/gestational age, and fetal macrosomia) will be statistically analyzed considering p < 0.05 as significant. (AU)