Objective To explore the correlation between serum angiopoietin-like protein 8(ANGPTL8) and intestinal flora and inflammatory factors in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

Methods Ninety-six patients with GDM (GDM group) and 80 healthy pregnant women (control group) were selected.The expression level of ANGPTL8 in serum was detected by qRT-PCR.The bacterial community was identified by Gram staining, and the number of intestinal flora was calculated.The contents of C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6(IL-6) and IL-23 were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Pearson correlation was used to analyze the correlation between serum ANGPTL8 expression level and intestinal flora and inflammatory factors.

Results Compared with the control group, the expression level of ANGPTL8 in the GDM group was significantly increased (1.65±0.22 vs 1.01±0.11) (t=23.66, P < 0.01).The contents of Enterococcus and Bacteroides in the GDM group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.01), and the contents of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.01).The serum levels of CRP, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-23 in the GDM group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.01).Correlation analysis showed that the expression level of ANGPTL8 in serum of GDM patients was significantly positively correlated with the levels of Enterococcus, Bacteroides, CRP, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-23(P < 0.05 to P < 0.01), and significantly negatively correlated with the number of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01).

Conclusions The expression level of ANGPTL8 in serum of GDM patients is significantly increased, which is correlated with intestinal flora and inflammatory factors.