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Published on: February 27, 2011
Metabolomic profiling of human feces and plasma from extrauterine growth restriction infants
Jiang Duan1, Qinghua Zhong1, Liyan Luo2
1Department of Pediatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan Province, China.
Insights
Extrauterine growth restriction (EUGR) in preterm infants without small for gestational age (SGA) or very low birth weight (VLBW) is linked to distinct clinical and metabolic profiles. Sphinganine-1-phosphate and 2-oleoylglycerol show potential as diagnostic biomarkers for EUGR.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal physiology and metabolomics
- Biomarker discovery in preterm infants
- Nutritional and growth studies in pediatrics
Background:
- Extrauterine growth restriction (EUGR) impacts many preterm infants, potentially leading to short- and long-term health issues.
- A subset of EUGR infants are not small for gestational age (SGA) or very low birth weight (VLBW), necessitating further investigation.
- Understanding the unique metabolic characteristics of these infants is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify differential metabolites in preterm infants experiencing EUGR, specifically excluding those who are SGA or VLBW.
- To characterize the distinct clinical and metabolomic profiles associated with EUGR in this specific infant population.
- To explore potential diagnostic biomarkers for EUGR in the absence of SGA and VLBW.
Main Methods:
- Collected fecal and plasma samples from 100 preterm infants, categorized into EUGR and non-EUGR groups (excluding SGA/VLBW).
- Utilized Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled with tandem Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) for metabolite profiling.
- Employed MetaboAnalyst 6.0 for data normalization, Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (PLSDA), and KEGG enrichment analysis.
Main Results:
- Significant differences in clinical characteristics (e.g., length of stay, weight Z-score) were observed between EUGR and non-EUGR groups.
- Identified 58 differential fecal metabolites and 71 plasma metabolites, involved in pathways like galactose and glutathione metabolism.
- Sphinganine-1-phosphate (plasma) and 2-oleoylglycerol (feces) demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy (AUC) for EUGR.
Conclusions:
- Preterm infants with EUGR, independent of SGA/VLBW status, exhibit unique clinical and metabolomic signatures.
- Sphinganine-1-phosphate and 2-oleoylglycerol are promising candidates for novel diagnostic biomarkers of EUGR.
- Findings contribute to understanding EUGR pathophysiology and may inform improved nutritional management strategies.
Background:
Extrauterine growth restriction (EUGR) affects a substantial proportion of preterm infants and may influence both short-term complications and long-term sequelae. While many preterm infants with EUGR are secondary to small for gestational age (SGA) or very low birth weight (VLBW), a subset of EUGR infants do not exhibit these conditions. The purpose of this study is to investigate the metabolic profiles and biomarkers of EUGR infants in the absence of SGA and VLBW.
Methods:
A total of 100 feces (n = 50) and plasma samples (n = 50) were collected from participants categorized as either EUGR (EUGR group) or non-EUGR (NonEUGR group) in the absence of SGA and VLBW. Metabolites were characterized via UPLC-MS/MS using the Discovery HD4® platform. Data normalization, partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLSDA), and KEGG enrichment analysis of metabolite profiles were performed using the MetaboAnalyst 6.0.
Results:
The clinical characteristics of preterm infants differed significantly between the EUGR and NonEUGR groups at discharge, including length of stay, weight Z-score, weight, height Z-score, height, head circumference, and fat-free mass. The PLSDA model exhibited clustering within groups and separation between groups. A total of 58 and 71 differential metabolites were identified in feces and plasma samples, respectively. They were involved in pathways such as caffeine, galactose, glutathione, cysteine, and methionine metabolisms. In the feces sample, 1-palmitoyl-galactosylglycerol exhibited a significant negative correlation with the growth characteristics of preterm infants, while 1-palmitoyl-2-palmitoleoyl-GPC displayed the opposite pattern. In plasma samples, androsterone glucuronide displayed a significant positive correlation with the growth characteristics of preterm infants, whereas 2-methoxyhydroquinone sulfate generated an opposite pattern. Moreover, 2-oleoylglycerol and sphinganine-1-phosphate exhibited the highest area under the curve in feces and plasma samples, respectively, according to diagnostic ROC curves.
Conclusion:
Preterm infants with EUGR, in the absence of SGA and VLBW, exhibit specific clinical characteristics and metabolomic profiles. Sphinganine-1-phosphate and 2-oleoylglycerol may hold promise as diagnostic markers for EUGR in the absence of SGA and VLBW.
Impact:
The objective of this study is to identify the differential metabolites in preterm infants with extrauterine growth restriction (EUGR) in the absence of small for gestational age (SGA) or very low birth weight (VLBW). Preterm infants with EUGR without SGA and VLBW exhibit specific clinical characteristics and metabolomic profiles. Sphinganine-1-phosphate and 2-oleoylglycerol emerged as potential diagnostic biomarkers for EUGR. This study enhances our understanding of the metabolomic profile in preterm infants with EUGR without SGA or VLBW. Our findings will offer valuable evidence for improving nutritional management and shedding light on the associated pathophysiological mechanisms of EUGR.
