Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 8, 2026
A Murine Model of Fetal Exposure to Maternal Inflammation to Study the Effects of Acute Chorioamnionitis on Newborn Intestinal Development
Published on: June 24, 2020
PP180. Maternal plasma endotoxin increases significantly across pregnancy with no association with obesity,
Introduction:
Endotoxin activates innate immunity, decreases insulin sensitivity and is associated with obesity. Recent data indicates that subclinical endotoxemia is associated with inflammation in obese women in late pregnancy.
Objectives:
The objective of this study was to quantify circulating endotoxin across pregnancy in lean and obese women, and assess the relationship between endotoxin and markers of inflammation and insulin sensitivity.
Methods:
Endotoxin was measured in sterile maternal EDTA plasma samples from 24 lean pregnant women (BMI=22.4±1.9kg/m(2)) and 45 obese pregnant women (BMI= 32.6±2.1kg/m(2)), and 6 non-pregnant women. Samples were collected at 10.5±3.1, 21.3±4.6 and 35.2±2.1weeks gestation. Endotoxin was quantified using the PyroGene Recombinant Factor C endotoxin detection assay from LONZA, inter-assay variability <10%. IL-6, myloperoxidase, uric acid, triglycerides, insulin and glucose were also measured. Statistical analysis was by repeated measures ANOVA and students t-test as appropriate. Correlation analysis was performed using Pearson product moment correlation coefficient. Statistical significance was accepted at p<0.05.
Results:
Endotoxin was significantly increased in both lean (10.4±5.3EU/ml) and obese (9.1±5.3EU/ml) pregnant women compared to non-pregnant women (4.3±2.6EU/ml, p<0.05). Endotoxin increased significantly across pregnancy in both lean and obese pregnant women (p<0.001), but was not different between these groups (table). Endotoxin was not associated with adiposity, IL-6, myloperoxidase, uric acid, triglycerides or insulin sensitivity as assessed by homeostasis model of insulin resistance (HOMA). Data are mean±SD. Repeated measures ANOVA p<0.001.
Conclusion:
Circulating endotoxin increases significantly during pregnancy, but endotoxin is not associated with markers of systemic inflammation or insulin resistance. Pregnancy may represent a condition of metabolic endotoxemia, however the causes and biologic activity of these increasing levels of endotoxin are unclear.
More Related Videos
05:31Author Spotlight: Modeling an Aspect of Preeclampsia in Female Mice Using Hypoxic Human Placenta-Derived Small Extracellular Vesicles
Published on: January 26, 2024
07:13Induction of Maternal Immune Activation in Mice at Mid-gestation Stage with Viral Mimic PolyI:C
Published on: March 25, 2016
Related Concept Videos
01:15Transcytosis of IgG
IgG molecules from a mother undergo transcytosis starting around 13 weeks of gestation. The amount of IgG transferred and entering the fetal blood circulation increases with...
01:22Development of Immunocompetence
The initial cells that migrate from the fetal thymus settle within the skin and epithelial tissues lining the mouth, digestive tract, and in females, the uterus and vagina. These cells, including skin-based dendritic cells, serve as antigen-presenting cells, playing a key role in T cell activation.
Subsequent T...
01:28Development of the Oral Microbiota