title: Plasma C16-Cer levels are increased in patients with preterm labor.
abstract: The pathogenesis of preterm labor is fragmentarily explained. The most widely accepted theory points out to infection and inflammation as possible causes, which can be mediated by potentially different factors, including sphingolipid mediators. Sphingolipids are a class of lipids that have been shown as important mediators in various cell processes such as: proliferation, growth, apoptosis, stress response, necrosis and inflammation. The aim of the study was to assess plasma concentrations of selected sphingolipids in patients with preterm labor.
  
  
  
  We used ultra-high performance liquid chromatography with triple mass spectrometry (UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS) to assess plasma concentrations of the 11 sphingolipids in patients presenting with symptoms of preterm labor (n=61) and threatened preterm labor (n=40).
  
  
  
  We observed a statistically significant increase (p-value<0.004) in plasma concentrations of C16-Cer in patients with preterm labor as compared to the control group. We also found C16-Cer to be the best predictor of preterm labor in the group of patients with symptoms occurring after 32 weeks of gestation.
  
  
  
  Our findings show a possible involvement of selected sphingolipids, especially C16-Cer, in the pathogenesis of preterm labor. Their role as predictors of preterm delivery needs to be validated in the future on larger group of patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Perinatology, Medical University of Bialystok, ul. Marii Sklodowskiej-Curie 24a, 15-276 Bialystok, Poland. Electronic address: plauda@umb.edu.pl.
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Laudanski
authors.affiliation: Department of Perinatology, Medical University of Bialystok, ul. Marii Sklodowskiej-Curie 24a, 15-276 Bialystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Karol
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Charkiewicz
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Oncology Center in Bialystok, ul. Ogrodowa 12, 15-057 Bialystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Rafal
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kisielewski
authors.affiliation: Department of Perinatology, Medical University of Bialystok, ul. Marii Sklodowskiej-Curie 24a, 15-276 Bialystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Pawel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kuc
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology with Dialysis Centre, Medical University of Bialystok, ul. Zurawia 14, 15-540 Bialystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Koc-Zorawska
authors.affiliation: Institute of Obstetric and Emergency Medicine, University of Rzeszow, 37-710 Zurawica, Poland.
authors.forename: Grzegorz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Raba
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Pathology of Pregnancy, Medical University of Lublin, 20-081 Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: Janusz
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kraczkowski
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics, Medical University of Bialystok, J. Waszyngtona 15A, 15-269 Bialystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Violetta
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dymicka-Piekarska
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Medical University of Bialystok, ul. Mickiewicza 2C, 15-222 Bialystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chabowski
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Research Center, University Hospital Hradec Kralove, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Marian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kacerovsky
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute for the Health of Women and Children, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden; Department of Genes and Environment, Division of Epidemiology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jacobsson
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Medical University of Bialystok, ul. Mickiewicza 2C, 15-222 Bialystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zabielski
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Medical University of Bialystok, ul. Mickiewicza 2C, 15-222 Bialystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Blachnio-Zabielska
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002518:Ceramides / Q000097:blood*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002518:Ceramides; C097760:N-palmitoylsphingosine
keywords: C16 ceramide; Inflammation; Preterm labor; Sphingolipids