Epigenetic Alterations Related to Gestational Diabetes Mellitus.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is the most common metabolic complication in pregnancy, which affects the future health of both the mother and the newborn. Its pathophysiology involves nutritional, hormonal, immunological, genetic and epigenetic factors. Among the latter, it has been observed that alterations in DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) methylation patterns and in the levels of certain micro RNAs, whether in placenta or adipose tissue, are related to well-known characteristics of the disease, such as hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, inflammation and excessive placental growth.

Immune tolerance at the maternal-placental interface in healthy pregnancy and pre-eclampsia.

Aim: The objective of this review is to describe the immunological mechanisms which facilitate maternal tolerance at the maternal-placental interface, and to discuss how these mechanisms are disrupted in pre-eclampsia.

Methods: A literature review was performed based on the analysis of papers available on PubMed. The most important and relevant studies regarding the immunological mechanisms which facilitate maternal tolerance in healthy pregnancy and pre-eclampsia are presented in this article.

[Clinical implications of basic research in preeclampsia: immunological tolerance].

Preeclampsia is one of the main causes of maternal and perinatal mortality in the world; however, the pathophysiologic pathways haven't been clearly elucidated. It is thought to result from a breakdown of maternal tolerance to paternal antigens in placenta that start an immune response against the trophoblast inducing a defective placentation and a hipoxic/isquemic environment which in turn triggers a systemic inflamatory response. This review gives an overview of the mechanims involved in maternal tolerance, how these are disrupted in preeclampsia, and how they contribute to the inflamatory response.