Dataset Information

Amniotic fluid cell-free transcriptome: a glimpse into fetal development and placental cellular dynamics during normal pregnancy.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The 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.

Methods

Women 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??1.25; for differential splicing, a splicing index >?2 and adjusted p?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?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.

SUBMITTER: Tarca AL

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7017452 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Amniotic fluid cell-free transcriptome: a glimpse into fetal development and placental cellular dynamics during normal pregnancy.

Tarca Adi L AL Romero Roberto R Pique-Regi Roger R Pacora Percy P Done Bogdan B Kacerovsky Marian M Bhatti Gaurav G Jaiman Sunil S Hassan Sonia S SS Hsu Chaur-Dong CD Gomez-Lopez Nardhy N

BMC medical genomics 20200212 1

<h4>Background</h4>The 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.<h4>Methods</h4>Women with a normal pregnancy who had ...[more]

PMID: 32050959

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Project description:IntroductionAt the maternal-fetal interface in pregnancy, stress during pregnancy can lead to an increased vulnerability to later psychopathology of the fetus. Potential mediators of this association have scarcely been studied and may include early alterations of fetal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Amniotic fluid is of particular interest for effects on fetal endocrine alterations, as the assessment in amniotic fluid allows for measurements over a time integral. This study hypothesized that maternal psychometrics, socioeconomic status and glucocorticoids are related to BDNF levels in amniotic fluid at birth. The association of fetal BDNF with newborn anthropometrics was tested.MethodsWomen near term who underwent elective cesarean section and their newborns were investigated (n = 37). Maternal psychometrics, socioeconomic status and glucocorticoids (the sum of cortisol and cortisone) in amniotic fluid at birth were analyzed for an association with fetal BDNF in amniotic fluid at birth. Newborn anthropometrics were assessed by length, weight, head circumference and gestational age at birth.ResultsIn bivariate analysis, maternal psychometrics and socioeconomic status were not related to fetal BDNF in amniotic fluid at birth. The sum of cortisol and cortisone related to increased fetal BDNF in amniotic fluid at birth (r = 0.745, p < 0.001). BDNF in amniotic fluid was associated negatively with fetal birth weight per gestational age (r = -0.519, p < 0.001), length per gestational age (r = -0.374, p = 0.023), head circumference per gestational age (r = -0.508, p = 0.001), but not with gestational age at birth. In multiple regression analysis, the sum of cortisol and cortisone (p < 0.001) and birth weight per gestational age (p = 0.012) related to higher fetal BDNF levels in amniotic fluid at birth (R2 = 0.740, p < 0.001) when controlling for fetal sex and maternal age. Head circumference per gestational age predicted fetal BDNF with borderline significance (p = 0.058) when controlling for confounders.ConclusionGlucocorticoids in amniotic fluid were positively associated with high fetal BDNF at birth, which may be an adaptive fetal response. Maternal psychological variables and socioeconomic status did not link to fetal BDNF. Birth weight and head circumference per gestational age were inversely associated with fetal BDNF at birth, which may represent a compensatory upregulation of BDNF in fetuses with low anthropometrics. Longitudinal studies are needed to assess the role of stress during pregnancy on later offspring development. The analysis of additional fetal growth factors and inflammation upon maternal stress in further biomaterials such as the placenta is warranted, to understand mechanistic alterations of how maternal stress links to fetal development and an increased vulnerability for psychopathology.

Dataset Information

Amniotic fluid cell-free transcriptome: a glimpse into fetal development and placental cellular dynamics during normal pregnancy.

Background

Methods

Publications

Amniotic fluid cell-free transcriptome: a glimpse into fetal development and placental cellular dynamics during normal pregnancy.

Similar Datasets

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