Acylation stimulating protein is associated with pregnancy weight gain.

Among the proteins secreted by adipocytes, acylation stimulating protein (ASP), which plays a crucial role in energetic balance regulation, merits particular attention. ASP is a protein of the C3 complement system, responsible for glucose and lipids metabolism in an insulin-independent mechanism. ASP's role during pregnancy and its interactions with pregnancy hormones remains unknown. The lipogenic character of ASP may impose a question as to what extent this hormone participates in pregnant women lipogenesis, and what is the basal and postprandial ASP secretion during the second trimester of pregnancy. The results of the examinations of 26 pregnant women during the second trimester of their first pregnancy were analyzed. Due to the limited data available in the literature, a control group was examined. The group consisted of 8 healthy non-pregnant patients within similar age ranges. Blood samples were collected in order to determine ASP, total cholesterol, HDL, LDL and triglyceride levels. Basal ASP levels present in obese pregnant women (group OBP; 30.20 +/- 2.13 ng/mL) were significantly higher than those in the healthy control group (group LnP; 20.49 +/- 1.97 ng/mL), P<0.05. Mann-Whitney U test- analysis of these group differences indicated that OBP patients had significantly higher ASP levels than controls at 30 (P<0.01), 60 (P<0.01), and 120 (P<0.01) min after a meal. After a meal, the incremental ASP area under the curve in group OBW patients was significantly higher from that observed in control group LnP (718,9 +/- 263,9 ng/mL x 2h vs. 35,1 +/- 14,6 ng/mL x 2h, P<0.05). Basal concentration of triglycerides, total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol were significantly higher in all pregnant women compared to the group of non-obese non-pregnant women. It was found that lipid parameters were highly dependent upon body mass gain during pregnancy. Group OBP demonstrated significantly higher basal concentrations of all parameters of lipid metabolism in comparison with the remaining groups of pregnant patients. In conclusion, we found abnormalities of ASP and lipid profiles in lean, overweight, and obese pregnant women strictly connected with obesity. Acylation stimulating protein correlated with lipid parameters, suggesting increased risk of dyslipidemia in obese pregnant women.

Basal and postprandial gut peptides affecting food intake in lean and obese pregnant women.

Maternal obesity has been reported as a risk factor for various maternal and fetal complications. The aim of the present study was to examine the patterns of basal and postprandial plasma concentrations of certain gut hormones affecting food intake such as acylated ghrelin, peptide YY(3-36) (PYY(3-36)), cholecystokinin (CCK), insulin and glucose in pregnant women with varying body mass gain during physiological pregnancy. The study included 34 women with singleton pregnancies in the 2(nd) trimester of gestation. The examined pregnant women were divided into 4 groups; I. control pregnancy (CP) with weight gain below 0.5 kg/week; II. overweight low weight gain <1 kg/week (OLWG), III. overweight high weight gain >1 kg/week (OHWG); morbidly obese pregnant with weight gain >1.5 kg/week (MOP). The basal acylated-ghrelin levels in MOP subjects were significantly higher than those in CP and no usual suppression of acylated ghrelin after the meal observed in CP as well as in OLWG and OHWG was found in MOP women. Basal PYY(3-36) plasma levels were similar in CP, OLWG and OHWG but in MOP was significantly reduced and no significant increase in hormone level, typically observed in CP, was detected after a meal in overweight or obese women studied. The fasting CCK and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in MOP subjects were significantly higher than those in CP and other overweight women. In conclusion, we found that pregnant women with overweight and obesity exhibit significant changes in fasting and postprandial gut hormones affecting food intake such as acylated ghrelin, PYY(3-36) and CCK as well as in CRP and these changes might contribute, at least in part, the development of obesity in pregnancy.