Yi Qiuhong, Lai Hua, Li Qin, Wang Chen, Zhou Xiao, Liao Lijun, Xin Siming, Zhang Feng, Zeng Xiaoming, Yang Bicheng, Zheng Jiusheng
Department of Obstetrics, Jiangxi Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Honggutan District, No. 508, Xizhan Street, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, 330000, China.
Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, Nanchang, 330000, China.
BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2025 Sep 1;25(1):913. doi: 10.1186/s12884-025-07732-8.
Preterm labor is a common high-risk condition during pregnancy, but current diagnostic approaches, such as cervical length measurement and uterine contraction monitoring, lack sufficient specificity and sensitivity. This study aims to explore potential biomarkers for threatened preterm labor using untargeted metabolomics, providing novel indicators to improve clinical diagnosis.
A total of 46 pregnant women from Jiangxi Maternal and Child Health Hospital were retrospectively enrolled in case-control study and divided into a preterm birth group (n = 23) and a control group (n = 23) based on gestational age. Serum metabolic profiles were analyzed using untargeted metabolomics. Differential metabolites were identified via Orthogonal Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (OPLS-DA) and P-value screening. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis was used to explore their biological relevance. Logistic regression and Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis were applied to evaluate potential biomarkers for threatened preterm labor.
Using Orthogonal Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (OPLS-DA), key metabolites associated with preterm birth were identified, including cis-9-palmitoleic acid (AUC = 0.830), 2-amino-1-phenylethanol (AUC = 0.718), and phenylalanine (AUC = 0.708), as shown by ROC curves. These metabolites were significantly elevated in the preterm group and showed good diagnostic potential (AUC > 0.5).
Several serum metabolites were identified as potential biomarkers for threatened preterm labor, defined by regular uterine contractions, cervical changes, and abnormal vaginal discharge before 37 weeks. These findings may aid in the early diagnosis of preterm birth.
早产是孕期常见的高危情况，但目前的诊断方法，如宫颈长度测量和子宫收缩监测，缺乏足够的特异性和敏感性。本研究旨在利用非靶向代谢组学探索先兆早产的潜在生物标志物，提供新的指标以改善临床诊断。
回顾性纳入江西省妇幼保健院的46名孕妇进行病例对照研究，根据孕周分为早产组（n = 23）和对照组（n = 23）。采用非靶向代谢组学分析血清代谢谱。通过正交偏最小二乘法判别分析（OPLS-DA）和P值筛选鉴定差异代谢物。利用京都基因与基因组百科全书（KEGG）分析探索其生物学相关性。应用逻辑回归和受试者工作特征（ROC）曲线分析评估先兆早产的潜在生物标志物。
通过正交偏最小二乘法判别分析（OPLS-DA），确定了与早产相关的关键代谢物，包括顺式-9-棕榈油酸（AUC = 0.830）、2-氨基-1-苯乙醇（AUC = 0.718）和苯丙氨酸（AUC = 0.708），ROC曲线显示。这些代谢物在早产组中显著升高，具有良好的诊断潜力（AUC > 0.5）。
确定了几种血清代谢物为先兆早产的潜在生物标志物，先兆早产定义为妊娠37周前出现规律子宫收缩、宫颈变化和异常阴道分泌物。这些发现可能有助于早产的早期诊断。
