PDX1 Methylation, NGN3 and Pax6 Expression Levels in Pregnant Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and their association with neonatal blood sugars and birth weight.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the correlation of maternal PDX1 methylation, NGN3 and Pax6 expression levels with neonatal blood sugars and birth weight in pregnant women with GDM and non GDM.

METHODS

This was a prospective cohort study. Total 80 pregnant women who were examined and delivered in the Department of Obstetrics of Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University from January 2019 to June 2022 were recruited and divided into two groups according to the results of oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT): the control group and the observation group, with 40 cases in each group. PDXl methylation rate was measured by the methylation-specific PCR method, whereas gene expression levels of PDX1, NGN3 and Pax6 were measured by RT-PCR meanwhile, neonatal blood glucose and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels were also measured.

RESULTS

In comparison with the control group, the observation group had higher levels of FBG, 2-hour postprandial blood glucose (2hPBG) and HbA1c (P<0.05). Neonatal birth weight and insulin levels in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group, while Apgar scores and blood glucose were lower than those in the control group(P<0.05). Moreover, the observation group had significantly lower gene expression levels of PDX1, NGN3 and Pax6, and a higher PDX1 methylation rate than the control group (P<0.05). Correlation analysis revealed a negative correlation between neonatal blood glucose levels and PDX1, NGN3 and Pax6 levels in the observation group, with statistical significance (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Changes in maternal PDX1 methylation, NGN3 and Pax6 expression levels may lead to abnormal glucose metabolism in neonates, which has a close bearing on neonatal hypoglycemia and blood glucose levels caused by GDM.