As a result of the determinations of serum levels of inflammatory mediators between the two groups, and given that only IL-6 was found to have a significant direct (FAO) and indirect (TGs) relationship with the two markers of lipid metabolism, we next considered conducting an ex vivo experimental study with fresh explants culture to test the effect of elevated levels of recombinant IL-6 found in serum of pregnant women with GDM on fatty acid metabolism, using a representative subset of placentas (n=4) from control women (Table 5). The gene discussed is IL6; the disease is gestational diabetes.