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Fetal Membranes: Potential Source of Preterm Birth Biomarkers

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General Methods in Biomarker Research and their Applications

Abstract

Preterm birth (birth before 37 weeks of complete gestation) is a major pregnancy complication and is the second largest cause of neonatal mortality worldwide. Majority of the preterm births are due to unknown etiologies, and this class of preterm births is known as spontaneous preterm birth (PTB). There are no reliable biomarkers to predict PTB as its causality and pathophysiologic pathways are unclear. Various maternal and fetal intrauterine compartments produce biomarkers that are associated with PTB. However, screening and diagnosis of PTB is difficult due to the overlap between various pathologic events associated with PTB and heterogeneity in biomarker response. Several studies have contributed to our current understanding of the mechanistic role of biomarkers produced by maternal and fetal tissues, but none of them have emerged as diagnostic tools. This chapter reviews knowledge gaps in PTB biomarker literature and discusses some of the fundamental issues associated with biomarker research in PTB. This discussion is based on data generated using human fetal membranes.

Fetal membranes (amniochorionic membranes) are fetally derived tissues and forms the innermost lining of the intra-amniotic cavity. They provide structural integrity to the intrauterine cavity and are capable of responding to various maternal-fetal physiologic and pathophysiologic signals. Reports document hundreds of biomarkers produced by fetal membranes that are associated with various pregnancy complications. However, fetal membrane biomarker response is complex, and the diversity in their response makes it difficult to understand the pathways of PTB. This chapter reviews three distinct scenarios where fetal membrane biomarker signature can vary: (1) type of antigen, (2) type of risk exposure, and (3) the race/ethnicity of the subject from which the membranes are derived. This is to highlight the heterogeneity in fetal membrane biomarkers and demonstrate how pathways can be different based on distinct biomarker signature. Understanding both maternal and fetal biomarker response based on an individual’s own risk profile is needed to tailor interventions to reduce the risk of PTB.

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Abbreviations

AA:

African-Americans

C:

Caucasians

CSE:

Cigarette Smoke Extract

ECM:

Extracellular Matrix

IL:

Interleukins

LPS:

Lipopolysaccharide

pPROM:

Preterm Prelabor Rupture of the Membranes

PTB:

Spontaneous Preterm Birth

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine Perinatal Research, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, 301 University Blvd. MRB, Room 11.138, Galveston, TX, 77555-1062, USA

    Ramkumar Menon

  2. Department of Pathology, Botucatu Medical School, University Estadual Paulista, Botucatu, Sao Paulo, Brazil

    Nathalia Noda Nicolau

  3. The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA

    Sarah Bredson & Jossimara Polettini

Authors
  1. Ramkumar Menon
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  2. Nathalia Noda Nicolau
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  3. Sarah Bredson
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  4. Jossimara Polettini
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ramkumar Menon .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Division of Diabetes & Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King's College London, London, United Kingdom

    Victor R. Preedy

  2. Faculty of Science & Technology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom

    Vinood B. Patel

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Menon, R., Nicolau, N.N., Bredson, S., Polettini, J. (2015). Fetal Membranes: Potential Source of Preterm Birth Biomarkers. In: Preedy, V., Patel, V. (eds) General Methods in Biomarker Research and their Applications. Biomarkers in Disease: Methods, Discoveries and Applications. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-7696-8_28

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