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Trans-omics integration underscores distinct roles of polyunsaturated phospholipids in bidirectional offspring birth

Jia Zheng1, Sin Man Lam2, Wei Ling Florence Lim3

  • 1Department of Endocrinology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, 100034, China; Key Laboratory of Endocrinology of National Health Commission, Diabetes Research Center of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Department of Endocrinology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100730, China.

Ebiomedicine
|August 18, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Abnormal birth weights are linked to reduced cord blood polyunsaturated phospholipids (PUFA-PLs). These lipid changes result from assimilation or utilization issues, not maternal supply, impacting fetal development.

Area of Science:

  • Perinatal Medicine
  • Metabolomics
  • Omics Integration

Background:

  • Abnormal birth weights (low, normal, high) correlate with adverse pregnancy outcomes and future metabolic issues.
  • Cord blood lipid profiles offer insights into fetal growth and development.
  • Understanding lipid signatures associated with non-optimum birth weights is crucial for early intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate cord blood lipidomes in infants with low, normal, and high birth weights.
  • To identify core lipid signatures linked to non-optimum birth weights.
  • To integrate omics data (placental proteome, maternal plasma lipidome, clinical phenome) for biological insights.

Main Methods:

  • Quantitative lipidomics performed on cord blood samples from two independent cohorts (discovery and validation).
  • Trans-omics data integration with placental proteomics, maternal plasma lipidomics, and clinical phenomics.
  • Analysis focused on identifying lipid signatures associated with birth weight categories.

Main Results:

  • Significant reductions in cord blood polyunsaturated phospholipids (PUFA-PLs) observed in low birth weight (LBW) infants, linked to placental vesicle trafficking.
  • Altered neutrophil degranulation noted in high birth weight (HBW) infants.
  • Cord blood PUFA-PL reductions in LBW were due to impeded assimilation, while in HBW, they were due to increased utilization, not maternal supply deficiency.

Conclusions:

  • Findings reveal distinct lipidomic profiles associated with LBW and HBW.
  • Impeded assimilation (LBW) and increased utilization (HBW) of PUFA-PLs are key mechanisms.
  • These insights can inform lipid-targeted strategies to optimize fetal growth and clinical outcomes.
Abstract

Keywords:
Abnormal birth weightCord blood lipidomicsPUFAsPlacental proteomics

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