Intracellular Metabolism in Diabetic Embryopathy |Biomedgrid

Diabetes mellitus in early pregnancy can cause congenital birth defects in infants, a complication known as diabetic embryopathy. Formation of structural abnormalities, commonly seen in the central nervous and cardiovascular systems, is associated with increased programmed cell death (apoptosis) and decreased cell proliferation in the developing organs. Under maternal hyperglycemic conditions, influx of glucose into cells of the embryos disturbs intracellular metabolic homeostasis. Disturbed glycolysis generates factors through side pathways to perturb cell signaling and organelle functions. Perturbed phospholipid metabolism produces signaling metabolites and peroxidation products to suppress cell survival and induce apoptosis. Targeting the key processes and factors in the metabolism of glucose and phospholipids is a potential intervention strategy to prevent birth defects in diabetic pregnancies.