Visfatin/Nampt and SIRT1: Roles in Postterm Delivery in Pregnancies Associated With Obesity

In this study, we sought a role for these proteins in obese pregnant women, who experience more postterm deliveries. Thus, 78 women (26 lean, 24 overweight, and 28 obese) were recruited and maternal blood and placental tissue collected prior to term labor. Plasma levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and quantitative immunohistochemistry used for placenta. We confirmed maternal plasma interleukin 6 increased according to prepregnancy body mass index (BMI; P < .0001) and showed a linear relationship between BMI and syncytiotrophoblast visfatin/Nampt (P = .021) but not with its levels in maternal plasma. Both systemic and placental visfatin/Nampt were significantly associated with placental SIRT1 levels (P = .028 and .017). Thus, higher visfatin/Nampt may prevent a labor-associated decrease in SIRT1 leading to postterm delivery in obesity.
Source: Reproductive Sciences - Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research