Lipidomic profiles of maternal blood at the earlier stage of gestation and umbilical venous blood in response to supraphysiological hypercholesterolemia versus physiological hypercholesterolemia: An evidence of potential biomarkers and early intervention

Abstract

BackgroundTo our knowledge, we lack a complete understanding of the lipidomes alterations caused by maternal supraphysiological hypercholesterolemia (MSPH) at the third trimester. ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to investigate lipidomes alterations in maternal and umbilical venous (UV) serum and explore the association between these alterations and MSPH. MethodsWe conducted a nest case-control study between maternal physiological hypercholesterolemia (MPH) and MSPH subjects during pregnancy. Lipidomic profiling of maternal serum at the first trimester of gestation and UV serum was performed by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography system connected to a quadrupole time-of-light/mass spectrometer. ResultsSeveral glycerophospholipids and sphingolipids (C18 sphingoid base) species were distinctly altered in maternal serum and/or UV serum with MSPH versus MPH. Glycerophospholipid metabolism, sphingolipid metabolism and propanoate metabolism were the main pathways that involved the most of discriminate metabolites. Higher HDL-c and phosphatidylcholine (16:0/0:0) (PC (16:0/0:0)) during pregnancy, higher PC (16:0/0:0) and lower cholesterol ester 20:4(8Z,11Z,14Z,17Z) (CE (20:4(8Z,11Z,14Z,17Z))) in the UV serum may be the risk factors for the increased placental circulation resistance. The total cholesterol levels of maternal serum both at the first trimester and at the third trimester were significantly correlated with some lipid species of UV serum. ConclusionThis study clarifies the differential lipid profiles to distinguish MSPH from MPH and the pathway which is influenced under the condition of MSPH. Also, it provides a resource to look for potential therapeutic targets for MSPH.