Inflammatory Markers and Genetic Variants in Gestational Diabetes and Pregnancy Complications: A Cross-Sectional...

Background/Objectives: Gestational diabetes (GD) is a common pregnancy complication linked to inflammation. Obesity, a major risk factor, is associated with elevated pro-inflammatory markers (TNF-α, IL-6) and reduced anti-inflammatory IL-10 and adiponectin. This study investigated the role of inflammatory factors (IL-6, TNF-α, IL-10, adiponectin) and their genetic variants (rs1800629, rs1800796, rs1800896, rs266729) in a unique four-group study design of pregnant women. Methods: We collected venous blood from 162 women in the third trimester of pregnancy. We measured IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, and adiponectin levels and performed real-time PCR genotyping for the selected SNPs. Results: IL-6 levels were significantly higher (p < 0.001) in pregnant women with GD and additional complications. The IL-6 SNP rs1800796 heterozygous CG genotype showed a slightly increased GD risk (OR = 1.41). However, we found no significant associations between GD and TNF-α rs1800629 or IL-10 rs1800896 SNPs. The AdipoQ rs266729 homozygous CC genotype was linked to increased GD risk (p = 0.03 for superdominant model). Importantly, no significant correlations were observed between inflammatory marker levels and gene variants within any study group. Conclusions: Our findings suggest a greater inflammatory burden in GD pregnancies with additional complications. While certain IL-6 and AdipoQ variants might contribute to GD risk, the overall weak association between inflammatory markers and gene variants likely reflects the complex polygenic nature of GD, environmental factors, or the study's sample size.