Maternal serum concentrations of s-Endoglin and IL-6 in pregnancy complicated by preterm premature membrane rupture

Metabonomics profile analysis in inflammation-induced preterm birth and the potential role of metabolites in regulating premature cervical ripening

BACKGROUND

Preterm birth (PTB) is the primary cause of infant morbidity and mortality. Moreover, previous studies have established that PTB is related to premature cervical ripening. However, the underlying mechanism remains to be elucidated. This study sought to identify differentially expressed metabolites and investigate their potential biological functions in PTB.

METHODS

Pregnant C57BL/6 J mice were treated with either LPS or normal saline and cervical alterations before labor were detected by staining. Metabolic profiles in the plasma of PTB and control mice were examined through non-targeted metabonomics analyses, quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunofluorescence staining were performed on human cervical smooth cells.

RESULTS

The study demonstrated that the mRNA and protein levels of α-SMA, SM-22, and calponin in cervical smooth muscle cells of PTB mice were lower while OR was higher at both mRNA and protein levels compared to the CTL group. A total of 181 differentially expressed metabolites were analyzed, among them, 96 were upregulated, while 85 were downregulated in the PTB group. Differentially expressed metabolites may play a role in STAT3, RhoA, mTOR, TGF-β, and NK-κB signaling pathways. Furthermore, when treated with taurine, the levels of α-SMA and SM-22 in human cervical smooth muscle cells were elevated, whereas that of connexin-43 was decreased.

CONCLUSION

Our study highlighted the changes of metabolites in the peripheral blood changed prior to PTB and revealed that these differentially expressed metabolites might participate in the development of premature cervical ripening. Taurine was identified as an important metabolite may modulate human cervical smooth muscle cells. Our study provided new insights into the mechanism underlying premature cervical ripening in PTB.

Lipidome Profiles Are Related to Depressive Symptoms and Preterm Birth Among African American Women

African American women have the highest rate of preterm birth (PTB; <37 completed weeks' gestation) of any racial and ethnic group in the United States (14.1%). Depressive symptoms (DS) have been linked to PTB risk of African American women. We hypothesized that maternal lipidomic profiles are related to prenatal DS and gestational age at birth among African American women. Women were enrolled at 9-25 weeks' gestation, completed questionnaires, and provided plasma samples. Lipidomic profiles were determined by "shotgun" Orbitrap high-resolution/accurate mass spectrometry. Data were analyzed using SIMCA P+ software. There was a clear separation in the orthogonal projections to latent structures discriminant analysis score plot between women with Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) scores ≥23 and women with CES-D scores ≤22. Similarly, a clear separation was observed in the model between PTB and full-term birth. Corresponding S-plot, loading plot, and variable importance in projection plot/list were used to identify the lipids responsible for the groupings. Higher levels of specific triglyceride (TG) species and lower levels of specific phosphatidylcholines (PCs) PC(37:1), PC(41:6), and PC(39:3) were associated with PTB. PC PC(37:1) levels were also lower among women with CES-D scores ≥23, pointing toward a possible connection between DS and PTB. Although overweight pregnant women showed higher levels of TGs, the PTB model showed specific TGs unique to PTB. Lipidomic profiles in pregnant African American women are related to DS, and our data suggest a role for specific TGs and PCs in PTB.

Biosensors for Detection of Human Placental Pathologies: A Review of Emerging Technologies and Current Trends

Substantial growth in the biosensor research has enabled novel, sensitive and point-of-care diagnosis of human diseases in the last decade. This paper presents an overview of the research in the field of biosensors that can potentially predict and diagnosis of common placental pathologies. A survey of biomarkers in maternal circulation and their characterization methods is presented, including markers of oxidative stress, angiogenic factors, placental debris, and inflammatory biomarkers that are associated with various pathophysiological processes in the context of pregnancy complications. Novel biosensors enabled by microfluidics technology and nanomaterials is then reviewed. Representative designs of plasmonic and electrochemical biosensors for highly sensitive and multiplexed detection of biomarkers, as well as on-chip sample preparation and sensing for automatic biomarker detection are illustrated. New trends in organ-on-a-chip based placental disease models are highlighted to illustrate the capability of these in vitro disease models in better understanding the complex pathophysiological processes, including mass transfer across the placental barrier, oxidative stress, inflammation, and malaria infection. Biosensor technologies that can be potentially embedded in the placental models for real time, label-free monitoring of these processes and events are suggested. Merger of cell culture in microfluidics and biosensing can provide significant potential for new developments in advanced placental models, and tools for diagnosis, drug screening and efficacy testing.