Study on the correlation between adipocyte fatty-acid binding protein, glucolipid metabolism, and pre-eclampsia

We aimed to explore the relation between the level of adipocyte fatty-acid binding protein (A-FABP) in the gestational period and related indices of glucolipid metabolism, and the possible mechanisms of occurrence and development of pre-eclampsia.

Seventy-six pre-eclampsia patients were enrolled and divided into the mild pre-eclampsia (n = 42) and severe pre-eclampsia (n = 34) groups. Forty-eight healthy pregnant women were selected as a control group. The indices of all participants were examined, including serum A-FABP, fasting insulin (FINS), fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and homeostatic model assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index was calculated. After the delivery of the placenta, the level of A-FABP in the placenta was detected by immunochemistry. Then, the correlation between serum A-FABP and indices of glucolipid metabolism and placental A-FABP were analyzed.

Serum A-FABP, FINS, TG, TC, HOMA-IR, and placental A-FABP were significantly higher in pre-eclampsia patients and the level of HDL was obviously lower than in the control group. Serum A-FABP was positively correlated with FINS, TG, TC, and HOMA-IR, and placental A-FABP was negatively correlated with HDL in pre-eclampsia patients. In the control group, serum A-FABP was positively correlated only with TG, and uncorrelated with the other indices (P > 0.05).

The level of A-FABP was correlated with insulin resistance and indices of glucolipid metabolism in pre-eclampsia patients. High-levels of A-FABP might increase insulin resistance by causing glucose and lipid metabolism disorders and ultimately inducing the occurrence and development of pre-eclampsia.