title: Spontaneous preterm birth and single nucleotide gene polymorphisms: a recent update.
abstract: Preterm birth (PTB), birth at <37 weeks of gestation, is a significant global public health problem. World-wide, about 15 million babies are born preterm each year resulting in more than a million deaths of children. Preterm neonates are more prone to problems and need intensive care hospitalization. Health issues may persist through early adulthood and even be carried on to the next generation. Majority (70 %) of PTBs are spontaneous with about a half without any apparent cause and the other half associated with a number of risk factors. Genetic factors are one of the significant risks for PTB. The focus of this review is on single nucleotide gene polymorphisms (SNPs) that are reported to be associated with PTB.
  
  
  
  A comprehensive evaluation of studies on SNPs known to confer potential risk of PTB was done by performing a targeted PubMed search for the years 2007-2015 and systematically reviewing all relevant studies. Evaluation of 92 studies identified 119 candidate genes with SNPs that had potential association with PTB. The genes were associated with functions of a wide spectrum of tissue and cell types such as endocrine, tissue remodeling, vascular, metabolic, and immune and inflammatory systems.
  
  
  
  A number of potential functional candidate gene variants have been reported that predispose women for PTB. Understanding the complex genomic landscape of PTB needs high-throughput genome sequencing methods such as whole-exome sequencing and whole-genome sequencing approaches that will significantly enhance the understanding of PTB. Identification of high risk women, avoidance of possible risk factors, and provision of personalized health care are important to manage PTB.
authors: King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, PO Box 80216, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Ishfaq A
authors: IA
authors: Sheikh
authors: King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, PO Box 80216, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Ejaz
authors: E
authors: Ahmad
authors: King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, PO Box 80216, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Mohammad S
authors: MS
authors: Jamal
authors: King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, PO Box 80216, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Mohd
authors: M
authors: Rehan
authors: Center of Excellence in Genomic Medicine Research, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Mourad
authors: M
authors: Assidi
authors: Faculty of Computing and Information Technology, King Abdulaziz University, Rabigh, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Iftikhar A
authors: IA
authors: Tayubi
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Samera F
authors: SF
authors: AlBasri
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Osama S
authors: OS
authors: Bajouh
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.|KACST Innovation Center in Personalized Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Rola F
authors: RF
authors: Turki
authors: Center of Excellence in Genomic Medicine Research, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.|KACST Innovation Center in Personalized Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Adel M
authors: AM
authors: Abuzenadah
authors: King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, PO Box 80216, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Ghazi A
authors: GA
authors: Damanhouri
authors: King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, PO Box 80216, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia. mbeg@kau.edu.sa.
authors: Mohd A
authors: MA
authors: Beg
authors: Center of Excellence in Genomic Medicine Research, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Mohammed
authors: M
authors: Al-Qahtani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005260:Female; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009017:Morbidity; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011247:Pregnancy; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Genes; Preterm birth; Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)