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Published on: March 13, 2026
Long-read transcriptome sequencing reveals isoform signatures in preeclamptic placentas
Yancheng Song1, YuTing Guo2, Jie Wu1
1Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China.
BMC Genomics
|July 21, 2026
Summary
This study used long-read sequencing to discover thousands of new gene isoforms in the placenta, offering new insights into preeclampsia molecular pathogenesis. These findings enhance our understanding of placental development and preeclampsia.
Area of Science:
- Genomics
- Transcriptomics
- Epigenetics
Background:
- Preeclampsia is a global pregnancy disorder causing maternal and neonatal mortality.
- Its molecular causes are not fully understood.
- Long-read sequencing offers high resolution for genomic studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To utilize long-read sequencing to investigate novel insights at the isoform level in preeclamptic placentas.
- To generate an isoform-resolved transcriptome of placental tissues.
Main Methods:
- Integration of Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) long-read sequencing, Illumina short-read RNA-Seq, ATAC-seq, and Whole-Genome Bisulfite Sequencing (WGBS).
- Analysis of placental tissues from normotensive and preeclamptic pregnancies.
Main Results:
- Identification of 48,175 isoforms, including 19,584 unannotated splice variants and 2,744 novel isoforms.
- Discovery that epigenetic modifications in promoter regions influence alternative first exon usage.
- Identification of novel isoforms of key preeclampsia regulators, such as ADARG1.
Conclusions:
- The study significantly expands the known human placental transcriptomic landscape.
- Multi-omics data integration confirmed findings and provided insights into biological functions.
- Generated resources lay the foundation for future research on placental development and preeclampsia mechanisms.
