Applications of metabolomics in the study and management of preeclampsia: a review of the literature

Abstract

Introduction: Preeclampsia represents a major public health burden worldwide, but predictive and diagnostic biomarkers are lacking. Metabolomics is emerging as a valuable approach to generating novel biomarkers whilst increasing the mechanistic understanding of this complex condition. Objectives: To summarize the published literature on the use of metabolomics as a tool to study preeclampsia. Methods: PubMed and Web of Science were searched for articles that performed metabolomic profiling of human biosamples using either Mass-spectrometry or Nuclear Magnetic Resonance based approaches and which included preeclampsia as a primary endpoint. Results: Twenty-eight studies investigating the metabolome of preeclampsia in a variety of biospecimens were identified. Individual metabolite and metabolite profiles were reported to have discriminatory ability to distinguish preeclamptic from normal pregnancies, both prior to and post diagnosis. Lipids and carnitines were among the most commonly reported metabolites. Further work and validation studies are required to demonstrate the utility of such metabolites as preeclampsia biomarkers. Conclusion: Metabolomic-based biomarkers of preeclampsia have yet to be integrated into routine clinical practice. However, metabolomic profiling is becoming increasingly popular in the study of preeclampsia and is likely to be a valuable tool to better understand the pathophysiology of this disorder and to better classify its subtypes, particularly when integrated with other omic data.

A double hit preeclampsia model results in sex-specific growth restriction patterns

“…Given that pre-eclampsia is characterized by widespread adaptations in metabolites (Kenny et al, 2010), including altered concentrations of lipids and carnitines (Kelly et al, 2017), we expected that the double-hit pre-eclamptic dams would have a unique metabolomic profile, resembling that of the human condition. A total of 183 metabolites, including monosaccharides, amino acids and several types of lipids (acylcarnitines, sphingolipids and glycerophospholipids), were investigated by tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS).…”

Metabolomic Pathways Predicting Labor Dystocia by Maternal Body Mass Index

“…77 Since then, emerging studies demonstrate the promising possibilities of this technology in the complex field of pregnancy where a mother-baby pair are interacting for mutual benefit. [78][79][80][81][82] Most recently, metabolomics was used to identify specific metabolites that were predictive of women's eventual development of preeclampsia 83,84 and of their neonate's level of adiposity. 85 Metabolomics is also useful for understanding labor processes.…”

Lipidomic profiling of chorionic villi in the placentas of women with chronic venous disease

“…The surge and refinement of omics has allowed for the better characterization and knowledge of the expression profiles of the different metabolites in a large variety of placental pathologies and has also shown their potential use as biomarkers of these diseases [19][20][21][22]. In this context, lipidomics is a growing area in the study of these metabolomic profiles.…”