The amniotic fluid proteome changes across gestation in humans and rhesus macaques

Area of Science:

• Reproductive biology
• Proteomics
• Developmental biology

Background:

• Amniotic fluid is crucial for fetal development, nutrition, and organogenesis.
• The molecular mechanisms of amniotic fluid's role in fetal development are not fully understood due to incomplete knowledge of its proteome.
• Previous cross-sectional studies suggest proteome changes with gestational age, but longitudinal data is lacking in humans.

Purpose of the Study:

• To longitudinally characterize the amniotic fluid proteome across gestation in a non-human primate model.
• To compare the rhesus macaque amniotic fluid proteome with gestational-age matched human samples.
• To establish a comprehensive reference proteome for amniotic fluid.

Main Methods:

• Serial amniocentesis was performed at early, mid, and late gestation in rhesus macaques.
• Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) with isobaric labeling was used for quantitative proteomics.
• Proteomic profiles were compared between longitudinally collected rhesus samples and cross-sectionally collected human samples.

Main Results:

• Significant cross-species similarity was observed between human and rhesus amniotic fluid proteomes.
• Large-scale, gestational-age-associated changes in protein content were identified throughout pregnancy.
• This study provides the first longitudinal comparison of human and non-human primate amniotic fluid proteomes.

Conclusions:

• The rhesus macaque serves as a valuable translational model for amniotic fluid research.
• The identified proteomic changes provide insights into the molecular regulation of fetal development.
• A reference amniotic fluid proteome across gestation has been established, aiding future research.