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Targeting placental inflammation: Investigating the effects of glucose, metformin, and LPS on the NLRP3 inflammasome
Medková, Michaela ; Karahoda, Rona (advisor) ; Jirkovský, Eduard (referee)
Charles University Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology Student: Michaela Medková Supervisor: PharmDr. Rona Karahoda, Ph.D. Title of diploma thesis: Targeting placental inflammation: Investigating the effects of glucose, metformin, and LPS on the NLRP3 inflammasome Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is one of the most common obstetric complications defined as glucose tolerance first detected during pregnancy. Recent research indicates that GDM is associated with chronic low-grade inflammation, a phenomenon observed within the placenta as well. Importantly, the human placenta expresses high levels of NLRP3- inflammasome-associated molecules and secretes large amounts of proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18. Elevated circulating levels of these cytokines, including IL-1β, have been linked to GDM. Moreover, metformin, a hypoglycemic agent used in pregnancy, has gained attention for its potential to modulate inflammasome activation. Thus, our study aimed to investigate the inflammatory response of human placental tissue to high glucose levels and LPS exposure and explore the potential anti-inflammatory effects of metformin. The study was conducted in villous placental explants isolated from human term placenta. qPCR and ELISA were used to evaluate the...
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