Obesity in Pregnancy is Associated with Macrophage Influx and an Upregulated GRO-alpha and IL-6 Expression in the Decidua.

About one third of all reproductive-aged women are affected by obesity. Maternal obesity is linked to an adverse outcome for both mother and child. The expression of the pro-inflammatory IL-6 and GRO-alpha as well as infiltration of macrophages in the placenta of obese, non-diabetic pregnancies was examined by immunohisto-chemistry in comparison to the placenta of normal weight women. In obese pregnancies the influx of macro-phages was significantly increased (p = 0.012). The protein expression of IL-6 and GRO-alpha was significantly elevated (p = 0.036 and p < 0.001, respectively) in the decidua of adipose females.