ESPE Abstracts

Introduction: Small-for-gestionational-age newborns (SGA-NB) may present subsequent comorbidities affecting their metabolism, growth, and development. Analysis of changes in serum proteome profile expression in SGA-NB may provide physiopathological information and help to identify postnatal biomarkers.

Aim: To compare serum proteome profiles in SGA vs AGA newborns, stratified by gestational age.

Study population and method: The study included 43 SGA-NB vs 45 AGA-NB, divided into three groups (15 SGA/15 AGA, except group 1 with 13 SGA): Group 1: 29–32 weeks. Group 2: 33–36 weeks. Group 3: ≥37 weeks. Inclusion criteria: signed informed consent, birth weight <p10 (Carrascosa) and no genetic abnormalities malformations or congenital infections. Three samples were obtained: at birth, at 7–10 and at 28–30 days. Proteome profiling techniques (2-DE-PAGE) were used to measure protein expression; spots were analysed using the Proteomweaver v 4.0. Software package, and porteins were identified by MALDI-TOFF/TOFF.

Results: Differences were found for nine proteins, of which eight were identified. Lysophosphatidinositol-acyltransferase 1 (LPIAT1) was detected in SGA-NB in all groups and at all times. Small-ubiquitin-related-modifier 3 (SUMO3) and apolipoprotein-L1 (APOL1) were found in AGA-NB in groups 1 and 3. Ig-lambda-light chain 6 (ICLC6) and putative β-defensin (DEFB108A) were occasionally detected in AGA-NB (at birth and at 1 week). Delayed expression of IGLC2 was noted at 1 week and 1 month in AGA-NB and SGA-NB respectively. The same pattern was recorded for keratin-type-I-cytoskeletal-9 (KRT9), though only in group 1. Coiled-coil-domain-containing-protein 51 (CCDC51), detected only in group 3, was present in all measurements for AGA-NB but only at birth for SGA-NB.

Conclusions: Differences were recorded between AGA-NB and SGA-NB groups, as a function of sampling time and GA, in protein expression, in glycerophospholipid synthesis, protein sumoylation, lipid transport, antimicrobial activity, and the innate immune response. Expression of LPIAT1 in SGA-NB may represent an adaptive response to protect the brain in an adverse fetal environment.