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Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyse different lymphocyte populations in subcutaneous (SAT) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) in patients with GDM. Furthermore, relative gene expression of selected inflammatory factors was explored between SAT and VAT. Methods: Anthropometric and biochemical analyses were performed in 21 pregnant women with GDM in 26-30 and 38-39 weeks of gestation. Lymphocytes were assessed as % of CD45+ cells measured by flow cytometry in SAT and VAT samples taken during cesarean section. Relative gene expression of inflammatory cytokines was determined using qRT-PCR. Results: In our GDM subjects CD45+ cells were higher in VAT compared to SAT (19.19 ± 2.23 vs. 6.54 ± 0.67 %, p=<0.001). The ratio of CD3- and CD3+ cells did not differ between both compartments. T helper (CD4+) cells were higher in SAT compared to VAT (37.61 ± 2.36 vs. 28.63 ± 2.57 %, p=0.019), while no difference was seen in T cytotoxic (CD8+) cells. Similarly, the amount of B (CD19+) and NKT (CD16/56+CD3+) cells was higher in SAT relative to VAT (1.32 ± 0.25 vs. 0.58 ± 0.14 %, p=0.010 for B cells; 9.67 ± 1.07 vs. 5.45 ± 0.92 %, p=<0.001 for NKT cells). In contrast, NK (CD15/56+CD3-) cells were higher in VAT (17.92 ± 3.07 vs. 9.14 ± 1.30 %, p=0.015). Of all measured cytokines only the expression of IL-10 was increased in VAT (1.063 ± 0.084 vs. 0.750 ± 0.106, p=0.026), while other inflammatory factors including TNF-α, IFN-γ and IL-6 did not differ between the tissues. Conclusion: Compared with subcutaneous adipose tissue the visceral compartment of GDM subjects showed an almost 3-fold increase in lymphocyte content suggesting a more proinflammatory milieu. These findings were further stressed by the elevated ratio of NK cells in VAT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]