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Gestational tissue transcriptomics in term and preterm human pregnancies: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Haley R Eidem1, William E Ackerman2, Kriston L McGary3
1Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, VU Station B #35-1634, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA. haley.eidem@vanderbilt.edu.
BMC Medical Genomics
|June 6, 2015
Summary
Preterm birth (PTB) transcriptomics research shows highly varied gene expression profiles. More large-scale studies are needed to understand the complex causes of PTB and improve prevention strategies.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Biology
- Genomics
- Perinatal Medicine
Background:
- Preterm birth (PTB) is the leading cause of newborn mortality globally.
- Limited understanding of PTB pathogenesis hinders effective prevention.
- This study reviews transcriptomics research to identify genes and pathways involved in PTB.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize the landscape of PTB transcriptomics research.
- To identify genes and pathways involved in various PTB subtypes.
- To highlight gaps in current research for future studies.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review and meta-analysis of genome-wide pregnancy studies.
- Searched PubMed for MeSH terms related to PTB and gestational tissues.
- Included gene expression, microRNA, and methylation studies.
Main Results:
- Analyzed 2,361 studies, identifying 134 relevant transcriptomic studies.
- Found limited overlap in differentially expressed genes across studies and subtypes.
- Preterm birth studies overrepresented medically indicated PTB over spontaneous PTB.
Conclusions:
- Gene expression profiles in PTB are highly heterogeneous.
- Significant gaps exist in transcriptomic studies of PTB subtypes.
- Large-scale, systematic genome-wide analyses are crucial for understanding PTB.
