Analyzing serum tryptophan metabolites in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus

Introduction: Although pregnancy is a physiological condition, the secretion of diabetogenic hormones such as growth hormone, corticotropin-releasing hormone, placental lactogen hormone, prolactin and progesterone from the placenta could lead to insulin resistance (IR). In Metabolic Syndrome, obesity and Type1&2 diabetes, a shift in the kynurenine pathway (KP) towards IDO activation is observed. The activation of the IDO leads to the activation of the Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and Interleukin-6 (IL-6) also, which may also induce some effects like insulin resistance, β-cell disfunction and increased gluconeogenesis. We hypothesized that the overactivation of IDO and some KP enzymes would be observed in GDM patients, in a similar manner to metabolic syndrome, prediabetes, and diabetes patients.