title: Performing discovery-driven neonatal research by transcriptomic analysis of routinely discarded biofluids.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To perform discovery-driven research on the neonatal salivary and cord blood transcriptomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two separate cohorts of infants were enrolled in this study. In one, cord blood (n = 10) and in the other, saliva samples (n = 10) were collected at term gestation. Total RNA was extracted, amplified and hybridized onto Affymetrix HG U133a gene expression microarrays. Following normalization, genes expressed in the highest quintile (≥ 80%) across all subjects in each biofluid were analyzed with Ingenuity Pathway Analysis. Over-represented pathways relating to organ specific development and physiological functions in the newborn were explored.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 303 genes in neonatal saliva and 282 genes in umbilical cord blood that met statistical criteria. Of these, 114 were common to both biofluids. Pathway analyses revealed the important roles of redox balance, cellular proliferation, and smooth muscle relaxation. In blood, hematopoiesis and immune response pathways predominated. In saliva, pathways associated with the gastrointestinal system were highlighted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Neonatal cord blood and saliva provide a wealth of transcriptomic information. These normally discarded biofluids should be considered an important source of real-time gene expression data that may elucidate key pathways in neonatal physiology and pathology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, The Floating Hospital for Children at Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA 02111, USA. jmaron@tuftsmedicalcenter.org
authors.forename: Jill L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Maron
authors.forename: Jessica A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Dietz
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Parkin
authors.forename: Kirby L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Diana W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Bianchi
mesh_terms: D001826:Body Fluids / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling / Q000379:methods; D056726:Genetic Association Studies / Q000379:methods*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008506:Medical Waste / Q000032:analysis*; D046228:Microarray Analysis; D009359:Neonatology / Q000379:methods*; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D047929:Term Birth / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D059467:Transcriptome / Q000235:genetics; D014470:Umbilical Cord / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D008506:Medical Waste