Possible Roles of Gut Microbiota in Maternal Transmission of Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is one of the most prevalent metabolic disorders, associated with significant mortality and reduced quality of life. The incidence of T2DM has increased rapidly in recent decades, especially in developing countries. T2DM is a multifactorial disease influenced by genetics, epigenetics, and environmental factors. One intriguing feature of T2DM is its familial aggregation and excess maternal transmission of disease from affected mothers to their offspring. However, genetic and epigenetic mechanisms alone do not fully explain this relatively high rate of maternal transmission. The gut microbiome has been shown to exert significant effects on glucose metabolism, body fat content, and insulin resistance. Moreover, the gut flora is partially acquired from the mother, either during pregnancy or after birth. Although the gut flora changes rapidly in response to environmental factors, a signature of the maternal microbiota can be traced in the offspring. Thus, a similar microbiome within a semi-haploidentical genetic context may increase susceptibility to T2DM in offspring. This study discussed current evidence on the importance of gut flora in the pathophysiology of T2DM and explored potential mechanisms of action.