Relationship Between Serum microRNA-372-3p and Glucose Transporter 4 Levels and Insulin Resistance in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Objective: To observe the changes in insulin resistance in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) based on the detection of serum microRNA-372-3p and glucose transporter protein 4 (GLUT4) levels. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 42 patients who were diagnosed with GDM and hospitalized in our hospital during the period from January 2017 to December 2021 and another 42 patients who had normal pregnancy during the same period by collecting their clinical data. We analyzed their serum microRNA expression profiles and miR-372-3p levels to study the relationship between GDM and insulin resistance. Results: The relative expression of miR-372-3p in the serum of patients in the GDM group was significantly higher than that of patients in the control group, but the GLUT 4 level of the GDM group was significantly lower than that of the control group (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the GDM group had significantly higher levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting insulin (FINS), 2-hour postprandial blood glucose (2h-BG), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index but significantly lower homeostasis model assessment of ?-cell function (HOMA-?) index (P < 0.05). The relative expression of miR-372-3p in serum was independently and positively correlated with HOMA-IR, while the level of GLUT4 was independently and negatively correlated with HOMA-IR (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Glycosylated hemoglobin test in the early stages of pregnancy (12–13 weeks of gestation) is important to ensure the health of pregnant women and fetuses. The screening and intervention for elevated glucose in pregnant women act as a guideline for the treatment of GDM. Patients with insulin resistance and related complications such as hyperinsulinemia and hypoglycemia should be given priority.