WISP1 is increased in the maternal serum, adipose tissue, and placenta of women with gestational diabetes mellitus

This study aimed to investigate the concentration of Wingless-type (Wnt)-inducible signaling pathway protein-1 (WISP1) in the serum, and its expression in the abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), and placenta of women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). A total of 69 patients with GDM and 71 pregnant women with normal glucose tolerance (NGT, control) were recruited. Carbohydrate metabolism, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lipid profiles, thyroid function, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and WISP1 levels were assessed. Fasting sera were collected between 25 and 30 weeks of gestation. Tissues of placenta and abdominal SAT samples were obtained from 24 women who had undergone cesarean section and were divided into a GDM group and a control group. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and western blot were used to detect the WISP1 expression. The serum WISP1 concentrations were higher in the GDM group than in the control group (p < 0.01) and positively associated with body mass index (BMI), fasting glucose, fasting insulin, HOMA-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and IL-6 levels. BMI, fasting glucose, and HOMA-IR independently and positively predicted WISP1 levels. Further, WISP1 mRNA and protein expression were higher in tissues from the placenta and abdominal SAT from the GDM group (p < 0.01). WISP1 may be an important adipokine in modulating carbohydrate metabolism in women with GDM.