ernal insulin therapy increases fetal endothelial progenitor cells during diabetic pregnancy.

Maternal Insulin Therapy Increases Fetal Endothelial Progenitor Cells During Diabetic Pregnancy Gian Paolo Fadini, MD1, Ilenia Baesso, BSC1, Carlo Agostini, MD1, Emily Cuccato, OBST2, Giovanni Battista Nardelli, MD2, Annunziata Lapolla, MD3 and Angelo Avogaro, MD PHD1 tes Care. 2008 Apr;31(4):808-10. Epub 2007 Dec 27. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are bone marrow–derived cells involved in endothelial homeostasis and angiogenesis. Reduction and dysfunction of EPCs have been associated with the development of atherosclerosis and diabetic complications . Recent studies in human pregnancies suggest that a mother's EPCs are involved in the physiologic vascular remodeling of systemic and utero-placental circulation . Hyperglycemia induces dysfunction and apoptosis of EPCs ; this may impair the development or maturation of the utero-placental circulation, causing maladaptive responses during diabetic pregnancies. Indeed, EPCs have been shown to be dysregulated in pregnant women with diabetes . Little is known about the effects of maternal factors on fetal EPCs. One study showed reduced cord blood EPCs in severe preeclampsia , but there were no data on diabetes. This study was undertaken to evaluate quantitative alterations of cord blood progenitor cells during diabetic pregnancies