The Exploration of Fetal Growth Restriction Based on Metabolomics: A Systematic Review

Mengxin Yao; Zhuoqiao Yang; Xin Rong; Xuan Hu; Na Yao; Manting Zhu; Xinnan Wang; Xiaoyan Zhu; Jieyun Yin

doi:10.3390/metabo12090860

The Exploration of Fetal Growth Restriction Based on Metabolomics: A Systematic Review

Metabolites. 2022 Sep 13;12(9):860. doi: 10.3390/metabo12090860.

Authors

Mengxin Yao¹, Zhuoqiao Yang¹, Xin Rong¹, Xuan Hu¹, Na Yao¹, Manting Zhu¹, Xinnan Wang¹, Xiaoyan Zhu^{2

3

4}, Jieyun Yin¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou 215000, China.
² Suzhou Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Suzhou 215000, China.
³ Institute of Suzhou Biobank, Suzhou 215000, China.
⁴ School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.

Abstract

Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is a common complication of pregnancy and a significant cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. The adverse effects of FGR can last throughout the entire lifespan and increase the risks of various diseases in adulthood. However, the etiology and pathogenesis of FGR remain unclear. This study comprehensively reviewed metabolomics studies related with FGR in pregnancy to identify potential metabolic biomarkers and pathways. Relevant articles were searched through two online databases (PubMed and Web of Science) from January 2000 to July 2022. The reported metabolites were systematically compared. Pathway analysis was conducted through the online MetaboAnalyst 5.0 software. For humans, a total of 10 neonatal and 14 maternal studies were included in this review. Several amino acids, such as alanine, valine, and isoleucine, were high frequency metabolites in both neonatal and maternal studies. Meanwhile, several pathways were suggested to be involved in the development of FGR, such as arginine biosynthesis, arginine, and proline metabolism, glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism, and alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism. In addition, we also included 8 animal model studies, in which three frequently reported metabolites (glutamine, phenylalanine, and proline) were also present in human studies. In general, this study summarized several metabolites and metabolic pathways which may help us to better understand the underlying metabolic mechanisms of FGR.

Keywords: biomarker; fetal growth restriction; metabolomics.

Publication types

Review

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the Youth Program of Reinvigorating the Health through Science and Education in Suzhou, China (granted number KJXW2020054), Jiangsu Province Medical Innovation Team Program (K201105), the Natural Science Foundation of the Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions of China, the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant: 82273635), and a Project Funded by Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions (PAPD).