Abstract
Spexin (SPX) is a novel biomarker abundantly expressed in several animal and human tissues implicated in food intake and glucose control, respectively. As new roles for SPX are emerging, the present study explored for the first time, the associations of SPX to several cardiometabolic indices and inflammatory markers in pregnant women, a demographic not yet investigated with respect to SPX. A total of 117 Saudi women subdivided to those with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) (N = 63) and those without (N = 54) were included in this cross-sectional study. Anthropometry, glycemic, lipid, vitamin D, adipocytokines and inflammatory markers were measured consecutively at baseline and after the 2nd and 3rd trimesters. Age- and BMI adjusted comparisons revealed that levels of SPX were not significantly different in pregnant women with and without GDM. In all subjects, circulating levels of SPX showed modest associations with glucose (R = 0.18; p = .08) and HOMA beta (R = -0.19; p = .09) as well as significant positive associations with total cholesterol (R = 0.25; p = .02), LDL-cholesterol (R = 0.25; p = .02), 25(OH)D (R = 0.22; p = .04), albumin (R = 0.30; p < .01) and IL1 beta (R = 0.41; p < .01). Stepwise regression analysis also suggested that IL1 beta, leptin and albumin were the significant predictors of SPX. In summary, SPX levels modestly affect glucose and insulin sensitivity in pregnant women but is not associated with GDM and obesity. The significant association of SPX to IL beta warrants further investigation as to the role of SPX in immune modulation. (C) 2018 The Authors. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of King Saud University.