TY - JOUR
T1 - The metabolomics of necrotising enterocolitis in preterm babies
T2 - an exploratory study
AU - Wilcock, A
AU - Begley, P
AU - Stevens, A
AU - Whatmore, A
AU - Victor, Suresh
PY - 2016
Y1 - 2016
N2 - OBJECTIVE: No single diagnostic investigation is currently available for
necrotising enterocolitis (NEC). We implemented a novel, untargeted, exploratory
study to determine whether metabolomics can reveal early biomarker(s) of NEC. The
effect of gestational age on the metabolome was also investigated.
METHODS: Two serum samples were obtained from 12 preterm babies (born <30 weeks
gestation) and eight term controls: sample "A" at ≤1 week of age and sample "B"
once fully fed. Samples were subjected to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.
Metabolomic data was analysed by principal component analysis (PCA), univariate
and network analysis.
RESULTS: Sixteen metabolite features significantly differed when B samples were
compared between preterm babies who subsequently developed NEC and preterm/term
controls (p value <0.05). Of these seven metabolites were linked to up-regulation
of IL-1β. Significant differences in 54 metabolite features (p value <0.05) were
observed between preterm and term metabolomes. Of these, 12 metabolite features
were linked to one network involved in carbohydrate/lipid metabolism
(p = 1 × 10(-30)).
CONCLUSIONS: Metabolomic differences were observed in preterm babies at risk of
NEC. However, sample sizes were insufficient to confidently identify a biomarker.
Network modelling of preterm and term metabolomes suggest possible nutritional
deficiency and altered pro-insulin action in preterm babies.
AB - OBJECTIVE: No single diagnostic investigation is currently available for
necrotising enterocolitis (NEC). We implemented a novel, untargeted, exploratory
study to determine whether metabolomics can reveal early biomarker(s) of NEC. The
effect of gestational age on the metabolome was also investigated.
METHODS: Two serum samples were obtained from 12 preterm babies (born <30 weeks
gestation) and eight term controls: sample "A" at ≤1 week of age and sample "B"
once fully fed. Samples were subjected to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.
Metabolomic data was analysed by principal component analysis (PCA), univariate
and network analysis.
RESULTS: Sixteen metabolite features significantly differed when B samples were
compared between preterm babies who subsequently developed NEC and preterm/term
controls (p value <0.05). Of these seven metabolites were linked to up-regulation
of IL-1β. Significant differences in 54 metabolite features (p value <0.05) were
observed between preterm and term metabolomes. Of these, 12 metabolite features
were linked to one network involved in carbohydrate/lipid metabolism
(p = 1 × 10(-30)).
CONCLUSIONS: Metabolomic differences were observed in preterm babies at risk of
NEC. However, sample sizes were insufficient to confidently identify a biomarker.
Network modelling of preterm and term metabolomes suggest possible nutritional
deficiency and altered pro-insulin action in preterm babies.
U2 - 10.3109/14767058.2015.1017462
DO - 10.3109/14767058.2015.1017462
M3 - Article
SN - 1476-7058
VL - 29
JO - The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine
JF - The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine
IS - 5
ER -