title: Women with preterm birth have a distinct cervicovaginal metabolome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Metabolomics has the potential to reveal novel pathways involved in the pathogenesis of preterm birth (PTB). The objective of this study was to investigate whether the cervicovaginal (CV) metabolome was different in asymptomatic women destined to have a PTB compared with term birth.
  
  
  METHODS
  A nested case-control study was performed using CV fluid collected from a larger prospective cohort. The CV fluid was collected between 20-24 weeks (V1) and 24-28 weeks (V2). The metabolome was compared between women with a spontaneous PTB (n = 10) to women who delivered at term (n = 10). Samples were extracted and prepared for analysis using a standard extraction solvent method. Global biochemical profiles were determined using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and ultra-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. An ANOVA was used to detect differences in biochemical compounds between the groups. A false discovery rate was estimated to account for multiple comparisons.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 313 biochemicals were identified in CV fluid. Eighty-two biochemicals were different in the CV fluid at V1 in those destined to have a PTB compared with term birth, whereas 48 were different at V2. Amino acid, carbohydrate, and peptide metabolites were distinct between women with and without PTB.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest that the CV space is metabolically active during pregnancy. Changes in the CV metabolome may be observed weeks, if not months, prior to any clinical symptoms. Understanding the CV metabolome may hold promise for unraveling the pathogenesis of PTB and may provide novel biomarkers to identify women most at risk.
authors.affiliation: Maternal-Child Health Research Program, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA.
authors.forename: Jeny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ghartey
authors.affiliation: Maternal-Child Health Research Program, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA.
authors.forename: Jamie A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Bastek
authors.affiliation: Maternal-Child Health Research Program, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA.
authors.forename: Amy G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Maternal-Child Health Research Program, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Anglim
authors.affiliation: Maternal-Child Health Research Program, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. Electronic address: melovitz@obgyn.upenn.edu.
authors.forename: Michal A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Elovitz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D055442:Metabolome; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000378:metabolism*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014621:Vagina / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: cervicovaginal metabolome; pregnancy; preterm birth
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