Infertility is a problem that could be treated by using In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). This procedure starts by increasing estrogen levels and then retrieving oocytes. However, studies have showed an increased risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE) and lung embolism that is correlated with the rising levels of estrogen. Microvesicles, vesicles formed from the cell membrane, increases in number in connection with IVF and diseases such as thrombosis. These vesicles can transport proteins, one of them is fetuin-B. Fetuin-B plays a role in fertilizing the egg by inhibiting ovastacin, a protein that leads to hardening of zona pellucida. Phosphatidylserine, a component of the cell membrane with strong binding capacity to annexin V, has also been studied while investigating VTE. The aim of this project was to analyze the amount of fetuin-B, ovastacin and phosphatidylserine in women undergoing IVF. The study included 55 women where three blood samples were collected from them at different time points. The tests were analyzed using flow cytometry and fluorescent antibodies targeting the proteins in question. The results showed a significant increase in fetuin-B and ovastacin after the treatment where double positive microvesicles (fetuin-B+ ovastacin+) had the highest significant difference, a rise of 78% after the hormone increase. (Fetuin-B+ annexin V+) increased over time, 205% after increasing estrogen levels, while no difference was seen for (ovastacin+ annexin V+). This thesis suggests that fetuin-B is strongly related to fertility and coagulation in women undergoing IVF. The protein has also a noticeable relationship to ovastacin. Most importantly, (fetuin-B+ ovastacin+) was suggested to be a better marker for women’s fertility than the other analyzed parameters.

Identification of biomarkers involved in the pathophysiology of gestational diabetes mellitus ABSTRACT Gestational diabetes mellitus is a disorder of glucose metabolism that occurs in pregnancy and resolves after delivery. Increasing production of pregnancy-related hormones leads to insulin resistance which is not adequately compensated by increased insulin secretion. Since obesity is an important risk factor for gestational diabetes and is also associated with adipose tissue dysfunction and increased peripheral insulin resistance, the question arises as to what extent is the adipose tissue involved in the development of gestational diabetes. The first part of the thesis focuses on the identification of changes in plasma concentration and mRNA expression of adipokines fetuin A, fetuin B and FGF21. In our study we did not show that the presence of gestational diabetes significantly influenced the plasma concentration of fetuin A, fetuin B and FGF21 during pregnancy. An important finding was that women who had pregnancy complicated with gestational diabetes had a significantly higher concentration of FGF21 several months after delivery in comparison to healthy pregnant women. We have been able to demonstrate the production of fetuin A in the placenta and fetuin B in perineal and subcutaneous tissue. However,...