Knight Anna K, Smith Alicia K
Genetics and Molecular Biology Program, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
Genes (Basel). 2016 Apr 13;7(4):15. doi: 10.3390/genes7040015.
A biomarker is a biological measure predictive of a normal or pathogenic process or response. Biomarkers are often useful for making clinical decisions and determining treatment course. One area where such biomarkers would be particularly useful is in identifying women at risk for preterm delivery and related pregnancy complications. Neonates born preterm have significant morbidity and mortality, both in the perinatal period and throughout the life course, and identifying women at risk of delivering preterm may allow for targeted interventions to prevent or delay preterm birth (PTB). In addition to identifying those at increased risk for preterm birth, biomarkers may be able to distinguish neonates at particular risk for future complications due to modifiable environmental factors, such as maternal smoking or alcohol use during pregnancy. Currently, there are no such biomarkers available, though candidate gene and epigenome-wide association studies have identified DNA methylation differences associated with PTB, its risk factors and its long-term outcomes. Further biomarker development is crucial to reducing the health burden associated with adverse intrauterine conditions and preterm birth, and the results of recent DNA methylation studies may advance that goal.
生物标志物是一种可预测正常或致病过程或反应的生物学指标。生物标志物通常有助于做出临床决策并确定治疗方案。这类生物标志物特别有用的一个领域是识别有早产及相关妊娠并发症风险的女性。早产新生儿在围产期及整个生命过程中都有很高的发病率和死亡率，识别有早产风险的女性可能有助于采取针对性干预措施来预防或延迟早产（PTB）。除了识别早产风险增加的人群外，生物标志物或许还能够区分因可改变的环境因素（如孕期母亲吸烟或饮酒）而有未来并发症特殊风险的新生儿。目前尚无此类生物标志物，不过候选基因和全表观基因组关联研究已确定了与PTB、其风险因素及其长期后果相关的DNA甲基化差异。进一步开发生物标志物对于减轻与不良宫内状况和早产相关的健康负担至关重要，近期DNA甲基化研究的结果可能会推动这一目标的实现。
