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Updated: May 7, 2026
Collection and Extraction of Saliva DNA for Next Generation Sequencing
Published on: August 27, 2014
Validation of Gene Expression Patterns for Oral Feeding Readiness: Transcriptional Analysis of Set of Genes in
Leonardo Henrique Ferreira Gomes1, Andressa Brito Marques1, Isabel Cristina de Meireles Dias1
1Instituto Nacional da Saúde da Mulher, da Criança e do Adolescente Fernandes Figueira-Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro 22250-020, Brazil.
Insights
Saliva gene expression analysis in preterm infants identified six key genes (AMPK, FOXP2, WNT3, NPHP4, NPY2R, PLXNA1) linked to oral feeding maturation. This noninvasive method shows promise for neonatal health assessment and monitoring.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Genetics
- Biomarker Discovery
Background:
- Neonatal health assessment is vital for early disorder detection and intervention.
- Traditional gene expression analysis methods can be invasive, posing challenges for preterm infants.
- Saliva offers a promising noninvasive biofluid for gene expression analysis in neonates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the utility of saliva-based gene expression analysis for assessing oral feeding maturation in preterm infants.
- To identify candidate genes that serve as biomarkers for feeding development in neonates.
- To correlate gene expression profiles with feeding status in preterm infants.
Main Methods:
- Prospective collection of salivary samples from 45 preterm infants (<34 weeks gestational age) across five feeding stages.
- RT-qPCR analysis of six specific genes (AMPK, FOXP2, WNT3, NPHP4, NPY2R, PLXNA1) and two reference genes (GAPDH, 18S).
- Correlation of quantified gene expression levels with the infants' feeding status at the time of sample collection.
Main Results:
- RT-qPCR successfully quantified the expression of AMPK, FOXP2, WNT3, NPHP4, NPY2R, and PLXNA1 in neonatal saliva.
- Gene expression levels were analyzed and correlated with the feeding status of the preterm infants.
- The identified genes were found to be predictive of feeding success and maturation.
Conclusions:
- AMPK, FOXP2, WNT3, NPHP4, NPY2R, and PLXNA1 are critical for regulating oral feeding and development in preterm infants.
- Saliva-based gene expression analysis is a promising noninvasive tool for early detection and monitoring in neonatal care.
- Further research and protocol standardization are necessary to fully realize the potential of saliva as a neonatal biomarker.
Background:
Neonatal health assessment is crucial for detecting and intervening in various disorders. Traditional gene expression analysis methods often require invasive procedures during sample collection, which may not be feasible or ideal for preterm infants. In recent years, saliva has emerged as a promising noninvasive biofluid for assessing gene expression. Another trend that has been growing is the use of "omics" technologies such as transcriptomics in the analysis of gene expression. The costs for carrying out these analyses and the difficulty of analysis make the detection of candidate genes necessary. These genes act as biomarkers for the maturation stages of the oral feeding issue.
Methodology:
Salivary samples (n = 225) were prospectively collected from 45 preterm (<34 gestational age) infants from five predefined feeding stages and submitted to RT-qPCR. A better description of the targeted genes and results from RT-qPCR analyses were included. The six genes previously identified as predictive of feeding success were tested. The genes are AMPK, FOXP2, WNT3, NPHP4, NPY2R, and PLXNA1, along with two reference genes: GAPDH and 18S. RT-qPCR amplification enabled the analysis of the gene expression of AMPK, FOXP2, WNT3, NPHP4, NPY2R, and PLXNA1 in neonatal saliva. Expression results were correlated with the feeding status during sample collection.
Conclusions:
In summary, the genes AMPK, FOXP2, WNT3, NPHP4, NPY2R, and PLXNA1 play critical roles in regulating oral feeding and the development of premature infants. Understanding the influence of these genes can provide valuable insights for improving nutritional care and support the development of these vulnerable babies. Evidence suggests that saliva-based gene expression analysis in newborns holds great promise for early detection and monitoring of disease and understanding developmental processes. More research and standardization of protocols are needed to fully explore the potential of saliva as a noninvasive biomarker in neonatal care.
