Inflammatory changes in late pregnancy

Mouse models have shown that accumulation of macrophages into adipose tissue is necessary for obesity-related insulin resistance; this is often accompanied by low-grade inflammation of adipose tissue and hypertrophy of adipocytes. Hypertrophy of adipocytes also occurs in late pregnancy; however, it is unknown whether local inflammatory changes occur at this time. Zhang and colleagues used pregnant mice to examine adipocyte size, changes in macrophage infiltration (classically activated macrophages (M1) and alternatively activated macrophages (M2)) into adipose tissue, changes in serum adipokine levels and gene expression of adipokines to assess whether there inflammatory changes occur in late pregnancy. Pregnant mice showed adipocyte hypertrophy, higher M1 macrophage infiltration and increased gene expression of pro-inflammatory adipokines, compared to non-pregnant females. The increase in M1 macrophage infiltration into adipose tissue results in a proportional increase in pro-inflammatory adipokines, such as TNFα and IL6. This induces inflammatory changes - a possible adaptation to maintain maternal and fetal metabolism in late pregnancy. Zhang et al. (2011) Journal of Molecular Endocrinology 47 157–165.

Read the full article at: DOI:10.1530/JME-11-0030.