The Metabolic Signature of the Placenta in SPTB

To test the hypothesis of the association of SPTB with deficits in the capacity of the placenta to maintain bioenergetic and metabolic stability during pregnancy, a comparative metabolomic analysis of placenta samples from women with SPTB (n=12) and normal pregnancies (n=12) was conducted. A subset of metabolites in non-laboring preterm and term Rhesus monkeys (n=6) was examined for the effects of gestational age on placenta metabolism. The study identified a significant elevation of amino acids, prostaglandins, sphingolipids, lysolipids, and acylcarnitines and lower level of fatty acid oxidation in SPTB placenta. The elevation of acylcarnitines was also confirmed by tandem mass spectrometry in SPTB human, with no significant differences between midgestation and term placenta in Rhesus macaque.