Longitudinal Proteomic Analysis of Plasma across Healthy Pregnancies Reveals Indicators of Gestational Age

Longitudinal changes in the blood proteome during gestation relate to fetal development and maternal homeostasis. Charting the maternal blood proteome in normal pregnancies is critical for establishing a baseline reference when assessing complications and disease. Using mass spectrometry-based shotg...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Elizabeth Yohannes, Danielle L. Ippolito, Jennifer R. Damicis, Elisabeth M. Dornisch, Katherine M. Leonard, Peter G. Napolitano, Nicholas Ieronimakis
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-06-01
Series:International Journal of Molecular Sciences
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/13/7076
Description
Summary:Longitudinal changes in the blood proteome during gestation relate to fetal development and maternal homeostasis. Charting the maternal blood proteome in normal pregnancies is critical for establishing a baseline reference when assessing complications and disease. Using mass spectrometry-based shotgun proteomics, we surveyed the maternal plasma proteome across uncomplicated pregnancies. Results indicate a significant rise in proteins that govern placentation and are vital to the development and health of the fetus. Importantly, we uncovered proteome signatures that strongly correlated with gestational age. Fold increases and correlations between the plasma concentrations of ADAM12 (<i>ρ</i> = 0.973), PSG1 (<i>ρ</i> = 0.936), and/or CSH1/2 (<i>ρ</i> = 0.928) with gestational age were validated with ELISA. Proteomic and validation analyses demonstrate that the maternal plasma concentration of ADAM12, either independently or in combination with either PSG1 or CSH1/2, correlates with gestational age within ±8 days throughout pregnancy. These findings suggest that the gestational age in healthy pregnancies may be determined by referencing the concentration of select plasma proteins.
ISSN:1661-6596
1422-0067