Jiahui Li, Limei Fan, Yu Nan, Min Wang, Shuli Yang

Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130000, People’s Republic of China

Correspondence: Shuli Yang, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, No. 4026, Yatai Street, Nanguan District, Changchun, Jilin, People’s Republic of China, Tel +8613500883873, Email yangsl@jlu.edu.cn

Abstract: As an inevitable end of an organism, cell death plays a crucial role in human metabolism. In recent years, inappropriate cell death, such as cellular apoptosis, pyroptosis and ferroptosis, has been shown to be involved in a variety of metabolic diseases. The placenta is an extremely important endocrine organ during pregnancy, which significantly influences fetal health by providing material exchange. Cell death has been found to be associated with several placenta-associated diseases, including gestational diabetes mellitus, preeclampsia and others. Inflammation is closely linked to the direct involvement of pyroptosis and the indirect involvement of apoptosis, and the inflammatory response in the placenta is thought to be an important factor contributing to insulin resistance in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus. Furthermore, the iron requirements of this particular group of pregnant women are bound to be undiminished, yet a range of adverse outcomes can occur with iron overload. This review aims to elucidate the effects of three common and important forms of cell death, including apoptosis, pyroptosis and ferroptosis, in various physiological and pathological contexts. This will enable a better understanding of their potential relevance to gestational diabetes mellitus, which will in turn facilitate further cytomolecular studies and clinical applications.

Keywords: cell death, ferroptosis, pyroptosis, apoptosis, GDM