Gene Expression Profile of Placenta and Adipose Tissue in Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Placenta and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) are implicated in the development of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). In the present study, we examined the whole-transcriptomic profile of both tissues in GDM women to elucidate the molecular basis of GDM pathogenesis. The whole-transcriptome profile was analyzed in placenta and VAT from at-term patients with GDM and controls using RNA-seq. qPCR was used to validate several differentially expressed genes (DEGs). A total of 179 DEGs were observed in the placenta and 4 in VAT, including both up- and downregulated genes. The expression of the selected mRNAs for validation was consistent with the sequencing results. An analysis of the placental upregulated DEGs in the GDM women showed enrichment in functions including the G-protein-coupled receptor signaling pathway, organophosphate biosynthetic process, and phospholipid metabolic process, while the downregulated DEGs were enriched in cell motility and the cell migration process. The target pathways of DEGs in VAT are related to cancer and to the activation of the complement cascade. Molecular pathways involved in G-protein-coupled receptor signaling, the organophosphate biosynthetic process, the phospholipid metabolic process, and cell motility and cell migration are altered in the placentas of GDM women. Moreover, a disordered complement cascade might take place in the VAT of GDM women.