1. Cord blood fatty acid‐binding protein‐4 levels are upregulated at both ends of the birthweight spectrum
- Author
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Konstantinos Voulgaris, Christos Christou, Sophia Georgantzi, Despina D. Briana, Evangelia Papathoma, Ariadne Malamitsi-Puchner, Antonios Marmarinos, Dimitrios Gourgiotis, Aimilia Eirini Papathanasiou, and Stavroula Gavrili
- Subjects
Male ,Offspring ,Physiology ,Adipokine ,Gestational Age ,Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins ,Fatty acid-binding protein ,Fetal Development ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,030225 pediatrics ,medicine ,Birth Weight ,Humans ,Prospective Studies ,030212 general & internal medicine ,reproductive and urinary physiology ,business.industry ,Infant, Newborn ,Gestational age ,General Medicine ,Fetal Blood ,medicine.disease ,Obesity ,Up-Regulation ,Cord blood ,Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health ,Population study ,Female ,Metabolic syndrome ,business - Abstract
Aim Fatty acid-binding protein-4 (FABP4) is an adipokine associated with obesity and signs of the metabolic syndrome. We aimed to investigate at birth in term neonates with normal and abnormal intrauterine growth concentrations of FABP4 and associate them with various perinatal parameters. Methods Serum cord blood FABP4 levels were prospectively determined by ELISA in 80 singleton term appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA), intrauterine growth-restricted (IUGR) and large-for-gestational-age (LGA) neonates. Results Compared to the AGA group, cord blood FABP4 levels were increased in the IUGR and LGA groups. Additionally, they were higher in early-term than full-term neonates. A significant U-shaped correlation was recorded between serum FABP4 levels and birthweight. A significant negative correlation between cord blood FABP4 and gestational age in the whole study population was noted. Conclusion Cord blood FABP4 levels were significantly higher at the extremes of foetal growth at term and negatively correlated with gestational age, being increased in early-term versus full-term neonates. Further longitudinal studies with larger sample sizes are required to elucidate FABP4 implication in foetal growth and its association with future adverse cardiometabolic outcomes in the offspring.
- Published
- 2019