Identification of a novel association for the WWOX/HIF1A axis with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM)

Abstract

The obtained results suggest a significant contribution of the <i>WWOX</i> gene to glucose metabolism in patients with gestational diabetes. Decreased <i>WWOX</i> expression in GDM compared to normal pregnancy, and in particular reduction of <i>WWOX/HIF1A</i> ratio, indicate that WWOX modulates HIF1α activity in normal tissues as described in the tumor. The effect of HIF1α excessive activation is to increase the expression of genes encoding proteins directly involved in the glycolysis which may lead to pathological changes in glucose metabolism observed in gestational diabetes.