Expression of Angiogenic and Endothelial Dysfunction Genes in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: Focus on VEGF-A and ALOX12 | ||
| Egyptian Journal of Chemistry | ||
| Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 10 September 2025 | ||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/ejchem.2025.406002.12074 | ||
| Authors | ||
| Mai M. Shaker1; Nesma M. Elaraby* 2; Taghreed A. Shalabi3 | ||
| 1Prenatal Diagnosis and Fetal Medicine Department, Human Genetics and Genome Research Institute, National Research Centre Cairo, Egypt. | ||
| 2Medical Molecular Genetics, National Research centre | ||
| 31 Prenatal Diagnosis and Fetal Medicine Department, Human Genetics and Genome Research Institute, National Research Centre Cairo, Egypt. | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Abstract Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a prevalent pregnancy complication involving hyperglycemia, which can disrupt placental angiogenesis and endothelial function, increasing maternal and fetal risks. Aim: This study evaluated the expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) and arachidonate 12-lipoxygenase (ALOX12) genes in pregnant women diagnosed with GDM compared to healthy controls, and explored their associations with clinical and biochemical parameters. Methods: A case-control study was performed included 200 pregnant women (100 with GDM and 100 controls). Gene expression levels of VEGF-A and ALOX12 were quantified in maternal plasma using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Relevant clinical and biochemical parameters were also recorded. Results: Both VEGF-A and ALOX12 were significantly upregulated in the GDM group. VEGF-A expression was 2.65 ± 1.8 in GDM vs. 1.72 ± 1.3 in controls (95% CI: 0.461–1.38; P < 0.05). ALOX12 expression was 0.63 ± 0.6 in GDM vs. 0.36 ± 0.3 in controls (95% CI: 0.128–0.415; P < 0.05). Statistical analysis revealed a significant correlation between VEGF-A expression with urea and total cholesterol (P < 0.05), while ALOX12 expression correlated with HDL levels (P = 0.04). Conclusion: The increased expression of VEGF-A and ALOX12 in GDM suggests their role in abnormal angiogenesis and vascular dysfunction. Their associations with metabolic markers highlight their potential as biomarkers for vascular risk and GDM-related complications. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Gestational diabetes; ALOX12; VEGF-A; vascular endothelial factor; Pregnancy | ||
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