Ancestry and fetal sex differences in human placental transcriptome in spontaneous early preterm birth

Black women have highest risk of spontaneous preterm birth (SPTB) than other race, and placental insufficiency is implicated in SPTB. We performed RNA-seq study in male and female placentas from White and Black women (self-identified) with early SPTB (< 32 weeks gestation) compared to normal pregnancies (≥ 38 weeks gestation) to assess the alterations in gene expression profiles as well as ancestry and fetal sex differences. The mid-trimester placentas (19-23 weeks gestation) were used as gestational controls. Examination of transcriptomes in 12 experimental conditions (SPTB White males, SPTB White females, SPTB Black males, SPTB Black females, Term White males, Term White females, Term Black males, Term Black females, Mid-trimester White males, Mid-trimester White females. Mid-trimester Black males, and Mid-trimester Black females)