Placental Galectin-2 Expression in Gestational Diabetes: A Systematic, Histological Analysis

• Main Authors: Paula Hepp, Laura Unverdorben, Stefan Hutter, Christina Kuhn, Nina Ditsch, Eva Groß, Sven Mahner, Udo Jeschke, Julia Knabl, Helene H. Heidegger
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-03-01
• Series: International Journal of Molecular Sciences
• Subjects: galectin-2; gestational diabetes (GDM); placenta; insulin resistance; chronic low-grade inflammation; metabolism
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/21/7/2404

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is the most common pregnancy-associated metabolic disorder that negatively impacts on the health of both mothers and their offspring in the long-term. The molecular mechanisms involved are not fully understood. As in other states of insulin resistance, a disproportionate immune response in GDM leads to a state of chronic low-grade inflammation. Galectin-2 exerts regulatory effects on different immune cells. This study investigated galectin-2 expression in the placenta of 40 GDM patients and 40 controls, in a sex-specific manner. Immunohistochemistry was used for semi-quantitative analysis of expression strength. The phenotypes of galectin-2 expressing cells were characterized through double immunofluorescence. We found a significant up-regulation of galectin-2 in the fetal syncytiotrophoblast, as well as in the maternal decidua of GDM placentas. Double staining showed a strong galectin-2 expression in extra villous trophoblast cells and fetal endothelial cells in GDM. These findings present the first systematic investigation of galectin-2 in GDM. The findings contribute to the emerging understanding of the role of immunomodulation and inflammation in GDM and of galectin-2 itself. This might also have implications for the long-term cardiovascular health of the offspring.