LC-MS/MS based untargeted lipidomics uncovers lipid signatures of the
human placenta from intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy
Abstract
Objective: To explore the characteristic lipid signature in
placentas collected from normal pregnancies and those with mild and
severe intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP). This research aims
to clarify the pathogenesis and identify lipid biomarker for ICP through
LC-MS/MS based lipidomic analysis. Design: Cross-sectional
study, including normal pregnancy women and women with mild and severe
ICP. Setting: Chengdu Women’s and Children’s Center Hospital.
Population: Placenta samples collected from 30 normal pregnancy
women and 30 mild and severe ICP women respectively. Women with normal
pregnancy and ICP were recruit from April 2021 to July 2022 in Chengdu,
China. Main outcome measures: Differentially expressed lipids.
Results: Fourty-four lipids were differentially expressed both
in mild and severe ICP placenta. The pathway analysis revealed these
lipids are mainly enriched in glycerophospholipid metabolism and
autophagy pathway. Weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA)
identified the correlation network module of lipids highly related to
ICP. Using multiple logistic regression analysis, we identified three
and four combined metabolites that had an area under receiver operating
characteristic curves (AUC) ≥ 0.90. Conclusion: Our results
systematically revealed the lipid signature in mild and severe ICP
placenta. The results may provide new insight into the treatment and
early prediction of ICP.