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Systems biology evaluation of cell-free amniotic fluid transcriptome of term and preterm infants to detect fetal maturity.

ABSTRACT: Amniotic fluid (AF) is a proximal fluid to the fetus containing higher amounts of cell-free fetal RNA/DNA than maternal serum, thereby making it a promising source for identifying novel biomarkers that predict fetal development and organ maturation. Our aim was to compare AF transcriptomic profiles at different time points in pregnancy to demonstrate unique genetic signatures that would serve as potential biomarkers indicative of fetal maturation.We isolated AF RNA from 16 women at different time points in pregnancy: 4 from 18 to 24 weeks, 6 from 34 to 36 weeks, and 6 from 39 to 40 weeks. RNA-sequencing was performed on cell-free RNA. Gene expression and splicing analyses were performed in conjunction with cell-type and pathway predictions.Sample-level analysis at different time points in pregnancy demonstrated a strong correlation with cell types found in the intrauterine environment and fetal respiratory, digestive and external barrier tissues of the fetus, using high-confidence cellular molecular markers. While some RNAs and splice variants were present throughout pregnancy, many transcripts were uniquely expressed at different time points in pregnancy and associated with distinct neonatal co-morbidities (respiratory distress and gavage feeding), indicating fetal immaturity.The AF transcriptome exhibits unique cell/organ-selective expression patterns at different time points in pregnancy that can potentially identify fetal organ maturity and predict neonatal morbidity. Developing novel biomarkers indicative of the maturation of multiple organ systems can improve upon our current methods of fetal maturity testing which focus solely on the lung, and will better inform obstetrical decisions regarding delivery timing.

SUBMITTER: Kamath-Rayne BD

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4619218 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Systems biology evaluation of cell-free amniotic fluid transcriptome of term and preterm infants to detect fetal maturity.

Kamath-Rayne Beena D BD Du Yina Y Hughes Maria M Wagner Erin A EA Muglia Louis J LJ DeFranco Emily A EA Whitsett Jeffrey A JA Salomonis Nathan N Xu Yan Y

BMC medical genomics 20151022

<h4>Background</h4>Amniotic fluid (AF) is a proximal fluid to the fetus containing higher amounts of cell-free fetal RNA/DNA than maternal serum, thereby making it a promising source for identifying novel biomarkers that predict fetal development and organ maturation. Our aim was to compare AF transcriptomic profiles at different time points in pregnancy to demonstrate unique genetic signatures that would serve as potential biomarkers indicative of fetal maturation.<h4>Methods</h4>We isolated AF ...[more]

PMID: 26493725

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Project description:BackgroundThe amniotic fluid (AF) cell-free transcriptome is modulated by physiologic and pathologic processes during pregnancy. AF gene expression changes with advancing gestation reflect fetal development and organ maturation; yet, defining normal expression and splicing patterns for biomarker discovery in obstetrics requires larger heterogeneous cohorts, evaluation of potential confounding factors, and novel analytical approaches.MethodsWomen with a normal pregnancy who had an AF sample collected during midtrimester (n?=?30) or at term gestation (n?=?68) were included. Expression profiling at exon level resolution was performed using Human Transcriptome Arrays. Differential expression was based on moderated t-test adjusted p?<?0.05 and fold change >?1.25; for differential splicing, a splicing index >?2 and adjusted p?<?0.05 were required. Functional profiling was used to interpret differentially expressed or spliced genes. The expression of tissue-specific and cell-type specific signatures defined by single-cell genomics was quantified and correlated with covariates. In-silico validation studies were performed using publicly available datasets.Results1) 64,071 genes were detected in AF, with 11% of the coding and 6% of the non-coding genes being differentially expressed between midtrimester and term gestation. Expression changes were highly correlated with those previously reported (R?>?0.79, p?<?0.001) and featured increased expression of genes specific to the trachea, salivary glands, and lung and decreased expression of genes specific to the cardiac myocytes, uterus, and fetal liver, among others. 2) Single-cell RNA-seq signatures of the cytotrophoblast, Hofbauer cells, erythrocytes, monocytes, T and B cells, among others, showed complex patterns of modulation with gestation (adjusted p?<?0.05). 3) In 17% of the genes detected, we found differential splicing with advancing gestation in genes related to brain development processes and immunity pathways, including some that were missed based on differential expression analysis alone.ConclusionsThis represents the largest AF transcriptomics study in normal pregnancy, reporting for the first time that single-cell genomic signatures can be tracked in the AF and display complex patterns of expression during gestation. We also demonstrate a role for alternative splicing in tissue-identity acquisition, organ development, and immune processes. The results herein may have implications for the development of fetal testing to assess placental function and fetal organ maturity.

Dataset Information

Systems biology evaluation of cell-free amniotic fluid transcriptome of term and preterm infants to detect fetal maturity.

Publications

Systems biology evaluation of cell-free amniotic fluid transcriptome of term and preterm infants to detect fetal maturity.

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