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Published on: August 7, 2017
A Pilot Multi-Omics Approach Unveils Strong Immune Activation in the First Ten Days of Life in Extremely Preterm
Laura Burgess1, Eva Caamaño Gutiérrez2, Brian F Flanagan3
1Department of Neonatology, Liverpool Women's Hospital, Crown Street, Liverpool L8 7SS, UK.
Insights
A multi-omics approach is feasible for studying very preterm infants (VPIs), revealing key immune and metabolic shifts in early life. This method tracks immune adaptation and metabolic changes during critical early development in VPIs.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Immunology
- Metabolomics
- Transcriptomics
Background:
- Very preterm infants (VPIs) possess underdeveloped immune systems, increasing infection susceptibility.
- Immune responses in VPIs develop amidst complex nutritional and metabolic changes during the transition from parenteral to enteral feeding.
- Early life development in VPIs requires understanding immune and metabolic adaptations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the feasibility of a multi-omics approach in very preterm infants (VPIs).
- To investigate dynamic changes in metabolic and molecular profiles from day 3 to day 10 of life.
- To correlate immune function and metabolic pathways in early neonatal development.
Main Methods:
- Blood and plasma samples collected from eight VPIs (<29 weeks' gestation) at day 3 and day 10.
- Microarray transcriptomics and 1H NMR metabolomics were performed on collected samples.
- Univariate statistics and pathway analysis were used to interpret multi-omics data.
Main Results:
- Identified 1185 differentially expressed genes linked to immune function, maturation, and development pathways.
- Observed downregulation in metallothionein pathways, offering insights into metabolic alterations.
- Detected five significantly abundant metabolites associated with altered sugar and fat metabolism in VPIs.
Conclusions:
- A multi-omics strategy is feasible for studying very preterm infants (VPIs).
- This approach successfully identified simultaneous changes in metabolic processes and immune adaptation within the first ten days of life.
- The findings provide a foundation for further research into optimizing VPI care and outcomes.
Abstract:
Background: Very preterm infants (VPIs) are born with an undeveloped immune system and are more susceptible to infection. Acquired immune responses must develop in a complex nutritional and metabolic environment as these babies transition from parenteral to enteral nutrition. We explored the feasibility of a multi-omics approach to investigate the changes in metabolic and molecular profiles between day 3 and day 10 of life. Methods: Blood and plasma samples were collected at day 3 and day 10 of life from eight infants born <29 weeks' gestation and used to perform microarray transcriptomics and 1H NMR metabolomics. All data were analysed using univariate statistics and mapped to biological pathways and molecular functions using an assortment of databases. Results: We found 1185 genes differentially expressed. The expression patterns found mapped to different immune function, maturation, and development pathways as well as providing mechanistic insights into metabolic changes, notably the downregulation of the metallothionein pathways. We found five metabolites that presented significant differential abundance. These linked to sugar and fat metabolic pathways, known to be altered in the preterm infants. Conclusions: We show that a multi-omics approach is feasible in VPIs and can identify simultaneous changes in the complex metabolic processes and immune adaptation that occur in the first ten days of life.
