Study finds gestational diabetes causes molecular changes in the placenta - Video

Gestational diabetes doesn't just affect mothers during pregnancy-it can leave a lasting imprint on their babies. A new study published in Diabetes reveals why: the condition appears to disrupt how the placenta reads and processes genetic instructions, throwing off key molecular steps in protein production. The research, led by scientists at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv University, may finally explain how gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) leads to complications such as preterm delivery, abnormal birth weights, and increased risks of obesity and diabetes in childhood.

GDM, which develops during pregnancy due to altered glucose metabolism, creates a nutrient rich environment that can stress both mother and fetus. To uncover how this affects the placenta—a vital organ that regulates oxygen, nutrient, and hormone exchange—the research team analyzed RNA from placental tissue of women with and without gestational diabetes. Using advanced RNA sequencing techniques on two large cohorts from Europe and China, they examined how RNA molecules were “spliced”—the process that determines which versions of a gene are used to build proteins.

Their findings were striking. In GDM pregnancies, hundreds of RNA messages were assembled incorrectly, particularly those related to metabolism and insulin signaling. This mis splicing can alter how the placenta functions, impairing its ability to support healthy fetal growth. The researchers traced these disruptions to one key regulator: SRSF10, a protein that helps orchestrate RNA splicing. When they suppressed SRSF10 in placental cells grown in the lab, the same genetic errors seen in GDM appeared, confirming its central role.

This discovery points to a previously unknown link between maternal metabolism and placental gene expression. “By identifying molecular players like SRSF10, we’re opening a path to interventions that could help protect both mother and child,” said lead author Prof. Maayan Salton of Hebrew University. Co author Dr. Tal Schiller added that the next goal is to explore whether modulating SRSF10 activity could restore normal placental function.

While GDM is often managed through diet, exercise, or insulin, this study shows that its biology runs much deeper—affecting the very software that helps cells interpret genetic code. The findings may ultimately guide new molecular therapies to safeguard pregnancy and long term health for the next generation of children.

REFERENCE: Engal, E., et al. (2025). Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Alters Placental Precursor mRNA Splicing. Diabetes. doi: 10.2337/db25-0333. https://diabetesjournals.org/diabetes/article-abstract/doi/10.2337/db25-0333/163844/Gestational-Diabetes-Mellitus-Alters-Placental?redirectedFrom=fulltext