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Small for gestational age children at risk: Identifying placenta-brain axis genes as biomarkers for early prediction

Jingjing Cheng1, Heyue Jin2, Yimin Zhang2

  • 1Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health across the Life Course, Department of Maternal & Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China; Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.

Life Sciences
|February 8, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Small for gestational age (SGA) children face higher risks of neurodevelopmental delay. Decreased RPS27A gene expression in the placenta is linked to developmental delays in SGA infants, offering potential for early detection.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Pediatrics
  • Genetics
  • Reproductive Medicine

Background:

  • Small for gestational age (SGA) is a significant global health concern.
  • The link between SGA and neurodevelopmental delay requires further investigation.
  • Identifying placental biomarkers is crucial for early neurodevelopmental delay prediction in SGA infants.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the neurodevelopmental outcomes of SGA children.
  • To explore the placenta-brain axis in relation to neurodevelopmental delay.
  • To identify potential biomarkers for early detection of neurodevelopmental delay in SGA children.

Main Methods:

  • Assessed neurodevelopment using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire of China (ASQ-C) at 6, 18, and 48 months.
  • Analyzed placental transcriptome data from SGA and appropriate for gestational age (AGA) cohorts.
  • Validated gene expression using Real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and developed a predictive model.

Main Results:

  • SGA children exhibited increased risk of neurodevelopmental delay at 6 and 18 months.
  • Reduced RPS27A gene expression correlated with delays in problem-solving and personal-social domains at 6 months in SGA infants.
  • Established a predictive model integrating clinical and experimental data.

Conclusions:

  • The study provides insights into the placenta-brain axis mechanisms underlying neurodevelopmental delay in SGA.
  • Experimental validation confirmed RPS27A as a potential biomarker for early detection.
  • Offers novel perspectives for timely intervention in SGA children at risk for developmental delays.
Abstract

Keywords:
BioinformaticsMachine learningNeurodevelopmentPlacentaPrediction modelSmall for gestational age

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