<i>Lachnospiraceae</i> -derived butyrate mediates protection of high fermentable fiber against placental inflammation in gestational diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Inflammation-associated insulin resistance is a key trigger of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), but the underlying mechanisms and effective interventions remain unclear. Here, we report the association of placental inflammation (tumor necrosis factor-α) and abnormal maternal glucose metabolism in patients with GDM, and a high fermentable dietary fiber (HFDF; <i>konjac</i>) could reduce GDM development through gut flora-short-chain fatty acid-placental inflammation axis in GDM mouse model. Mechanistically, HFDF increases abundances of <i>Lachnospiraceae</i> and butyrate, reduces placental-derived inflammation by enhancing gut barrier and inhibiting the transfer of bacterial-derived lipopolysaccharide, and ultimately resists high-fat diet-induced insulin resistance. <i>Lachnospiraceae</i> and butyrate have similar anti-GDM and anti-placental inflammation effects, and they can ameliorate placental function and pregnancy outcome effects probably by dampening placental immune dysfunction. These findings demonstrate the involvement of important placental inflammation-related mechanisms in the progression of GDM and the great potential of HFDFs to reduce susceptibility to GDM through gut-flora-placenta axis.