{"id":24850,"date":"2025-11-11T07:00:40","date_gmt":"2025-11-11T07:00:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/idibe.umh.es\/?p=24850"},"modified":"2025-11-11T07:00:40","modified_gmt":"2025-11-11T07:00:40","slug":"new-study-reveals-a-molecular-pathway-involved-in-gestational-diabetes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/idibe.umh.es\/en\/2025\/11\/11\/new-study-reveals-a-molecular-pathway-involved-in-gestational-diabetes\/","title":{"rendered":"New Study Reveals a Molecular Pathway Involved in Gestational Diabetes"},"content":{"rendered":"

We are pleased to share the latest scientific breakthrough from the Diabesity and Islet Research Lab<\/strong><\/a> of the Basic Research Unit in Diabetes (IDiBE-UMH)<\/a>, in collaboration with the Gynecology and Obstetrics Department at Hospital Vinalop\u00f3 (Elche)<\/strong> and the University of Alicante<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The study, led by Dr. Paloma Alonso-Magdalena<\/strong>, has been published in the journal Molecular Metabolism<\/em> under the title:<\/p>\n

\u27a1\ufe0f \u201cIncreased TGF-\u03b2\/Activin-Smad2 signaling is associated with pancreatic \u03b2-cell dysfunction and glucose intolerance in gestational diabetes mellitus.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

\ud83d\udccc What was investigated and why it matters<\/strong><\/p>\n

Gestational diabetes<\/strong> is the most common metabolic disorder during pregnancy. It occurs when the mother\u2019s body does not produce enough insulin<\/strong>, the hormone responsible for regulating blood glucose levels.<\/p>\n

During pregnancy, pancreatic beta cells normally increase insulin production<\/strong> to meet growing metabolic demands. However, in some women, this adaptation does not happen correctly.<\/p>\n

This study addressed a key question:<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cWhat is failing inside pancreatic cells that prevents them from adapting during pregnancy?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\ud83e\uddec The answer may involve a specific molecular pathway<\/strong>: the TGF-\u03b2\/Activin-Smad2 pathway<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udccd Main Findings<\/strong><\/p>\n

Researchers discovered that:<\/p>\n