ESPE Abstracts

Background: Small-for-gestational-age (SGA) newborn infants (NB) may present long-term comorbidities influencing their metabolism, growth and/or development. Although their serum proteome is unknown, altered expression of the proteome profile may provide information on their physiopathology and lead to the discovery of biomarkers for postnatal complications.

Aim: To detect changes in the serum proteome in SGA-NB vs adequate-for-gestational-age (AGA) newborns during the first month of postnatal life.

Population and method: A total of 43 SGA-NBs and 45 AGA-NBs were divided into three groups (15 SGA/15 AGA, respectively): Group 1, 29–32 weeks; Group 2, 33–36 weeks; Group 3, ≧37 weeks. Inclusion criteria: signed informed consent, weight at birth <p10 (Carrascosa curves), and absence of congenital genetic abnormality, malformation or infection. Three samples were taken: at birth, 7–10 and 28–30 days. For proteome techniques (2DE-PAGE) to assess differential expression of proteins, spot analysis was carried out using the Proteomweaver v 4.0. software package; proteins were identified by MALDI-TOF/TOF, and Western Blot was used for validation purposes.

Results: Differences were found in the expression of 33 proteins, all identified. One (LPIAT1) was present only in SGA-NBs. Seven (SUMO3, APOL1, ICLC6, DEFB108A, IGLC2 KRT9 and CCDC51) were found only in AGA-NBs. A total of 20 were overexpressed (five Albu, GSN, APOE, KRT10, SLC41A2, ANAPC2, APOA1, UPG2, two SERPIN1, DNAH6, Apoh, Prdx2, FGB, and two TFS) and 5 were underexpressed (FCN2, two VTNs, RAB35, and Apoh-fragment) in SGA-NBs. LPIAT and SERPIN1 were found in all SGA-NB groups at all stages.

Conclusions: Significant differences between SGA-NBs and AGA-NBs at different ages were found for the expression of proteins involved in phospholipid synthesis, protein ubiquitination, lipid transport, antimicrobial activity and the innate immune response. In SGA-NBs, expression of LPIAT1 and SERPIN1 may be an adaptive response to protect the brain in an adverse foetal environment, recalling Barker’s foetal programming theory. This is the first study to evaluate changes in the serum proteome of SGA-NBS as a function of gestational age: 1, 7 and 30 days after birth.