Glucose-induced release of tumour necrosis factor-alpha from human placental and adipose tissues in gestational diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Aims: The cytokine tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance in Type 2 diabetes mellitus, but limited data are available in relation to gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), a disease in which similar biochemical abnormalities exist. We investigated the effect of exogenous glucose on the release of TNF-α from placental and adipose (omental and subcutaneous) tissue obtained from normal pregnant women, and women with GDM. Methods: Human tissue explants were incubated for up to 24 h and TNF-α concentration in the incubation medium quantified by ELISA. The effect of normal (5 mmol/l) and high (15 and 25 mmol/l) glucose concentrations on the..