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Updated: Jun 25, 2026
The 4-vessel Sampling Approach to Integrative Studies of Human Placental Physiology In Vivo
Published on: August 2, 2017
Integrated metabolomic and transcriptomic analysis identifies enhanced phosphatidylcholine metabolism in placenta
Zhenping Liu1, Xijiang Liu2, Wenxia Zhang1
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250001, China.
Background:
Placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) is a serious obstetric complication with limited understanding of its molecular basis. This study investigates metabolic and transcriptomic alterations in PAS placentas to uncover potential mechanisms and biomarkers.
Methods:
Placental tissues from PAS patients (n = 19) and controls (n = 10) underwent untargeted metabolomics via Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Differential metabolites were analyzed for pathway enrichment. RNA sequencing was performed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs), followed by Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and disease ontology enrichment. Integrated metabolomic-transcriptomic analysis was used to identify key metabolic pathways, and findings were validated in an expanded cohort (22 PAS cases, 50 controls). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to assess the diagnostic performance of Lecithin, phosphate cytidylyltransferase 1 beta (PCYT1B), and their combination for predicting PAS.
Results:
A total of 203 metabolites were differentially expressed in PAS placentas, with lipid and lipid-like molecules comprising the largest class. Several phosphatidylcholine (PC) species were significantly upregulated, indicating dysregulated glycerophospholipid metabolism. Transcriptome analysis identified 578 DEGs, including upregulation of PCYT1B and endothelial lipase (LIPG), both involved in lipid metabolism. Enrichment analysis revealed activation of glycerolipid and glycosphingolipid pathways and the potential involvement with metabolic disorders. Integrated analysis highlighted enhanced phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis, supported by elevated PCYT1B expression and increased total PC levels in PAS placentas. Lecithin showed higher sensitivity but lower specificity, while PCYT1B displayed intermediate performance. Their combination yielded the best discrimination with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.791 (95% CI: 0.684-0.899).
Conclusions:
PAS is characterized by significant alterations in lipid metabolism, particularly increased phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis via the Kennedy pathway. These findings provide new insights into the molecular pathogenesis of PAS and suggest potential metabolic targets for early diagnosis or intervention.
