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Chen W, Kongsomros S, Thorman A, Esfandiari L, Morrow AL, Chutipongtanate S, Newburg DS. Extracellular vesicles and preterm infant diseases. Front Pediatr 2025; 13:1550115. [PMID: 40034714 PMCID: PMC11873092 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2025.1550115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2025] [Indexed: 03/05/2025] Open
Abstract
With the continuous improvement in perinatal care, the number of viable preterm infants is gradually increasing, along with the rise in preterm-related diseases such as necrotizing enterocolitis, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, perinatal brain injury, retinopathy of prematurity, and sepsis. Due to the unique pathophysiology of preterm infants, diagnosing and treating these diseases has become particularly challenging, significantly affecting their survival rate and long-term quality of life. Extracellular vesicles (EVs), as key mediators of intercellular communication, play an important regulatory role in the pathophysiology of these diseases. Because of their biological characteristics, EVs could serve as biomarkers and potential therapeutic agents for preterm-related diseases. This review summarizes the biological properties of EVs, their relationship with preterm-related diseases, and their prospects for diagnosis and treatment. EVs face unique challenges and opportunities for clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenqain Chen
- Department of Neonatology, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital; College of Clinical Medicine for Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pediatrics, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
- MILCH and Novel Therapeutics Lab, Division of Epidemiology, Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Supasek Kongsomros
- MILCH and Novel Therapeutics Lab, Division of Epidemiology, Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Alexander Thorman
- MILCH and Novel Therapeutics Lab, Division of Epidemiology, Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Leyla Esfandiari
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Cincinnati College of Engineering, Cincinnati, OH, United States
- Extracellular Vesicle Working Group, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Ardythe L. Morrow
- MILCH and Novel Therapeutics Lab, Division of Epidemiology, Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States
- Extracellular Vesicle Working Group, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States
- Department of Infectious Disease, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Somchai Chutipongtanate
- MILCH and Novel Therapeutics Lab, Division of Epidemiology, Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States
- Extracellular Vesicle Working Group, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - David S. Newburg
- MILCH and Novel Therapeutics Lab, Division of Epidemiology, Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States
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Fan XY, Lin XS, Yang BR, Zhang HW, Tang F, Tang JJ, Chi HB, Mansell T, Kartiosuo N, Xia YY, Han TL, Zhang H, Baker P, Saffery R. Relationship between prenatal metals exposure and neurodevelopment in one-year-old infants in the CLIMB study. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2025; 291:117860. [PMID: 39919595 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.117860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2024] [Revised: 02/04/2025] [Accepted: 02/04/2025] [Indexed: 02/09/2025]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal metals exposure and its effects on infant neurodevelopment have garnered significant attention. However, most studies focus on individual metals, neglecting combined effects. OBJECTIVES We aimed to assess the effects of both single and combined prenatal metals exposure on one-year-old infants' neurodevelopment. METHODS This study included 189 mother-infant pairs from the Complex Lipids in Mothers and Babies (CLIMB) cohort. The concentrations of 21 metallic elements and 2 metalloids in umbilical cord blood (UCB) serum were measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Neurodevelopment was measured using Chinese version of Bayley Scales of Infant Development (BSID) for the Psychomotor Development Index (PDI) and the Mental Development Index (MDI). Multiple statistical methods, including linear models, restricted cubic splines (RCS), weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression, and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR). RESULTS After adjusting for potential confounders, prenatal arsenic (As) and strontium (Sr) levels were associated with lower PDI scores (As: β = -2.324; 95 % CI: -4.61, -0.04; Sr: β = -2.426; 95 % CI: -4.67, -0.18) by linear regression, while Sr was associated with lower MDI scores (β = -2.841; 95 % CI: -5.44, -0.25). RCS models revealed nonlinear dose-response relationships between manganese (Mn) and calcium (Ca) with PDI, and for Mn, As, and zirconium (Zr) with MDI. Interactions between certain metals were also identified. Metals mixture had an overall negative effect on both PDI and MDI scores, with Mn being the primary contributor. CONCLUSION Prenatal exposure to selected metals or metal mixtures is associated with poorer neurodevelopment in one-year-old infants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Yuan Fan
- School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xian-Shu Lin
- School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Bing-Rui Yang
- School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Han-Wen Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Feng Tang
- School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jia-Jia Tang
- School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - He-Bin Chi
- School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Toby Mansell
- Molecular Immunity, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Noora Kartiosuo
- Research Centre of Applied and Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Yin-Yin Xia
- School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
| | - Ting-Li Han
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
| | - Hua Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Philip Baker
- College of Life Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - Richard Saffery
- Molecular Immunity, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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Kim EB, Song JH, Le LNH, Kim H, Koh JW, Seo Y, Jeong HR, Kim HT, Ryu S. Characterization of exosomal microRNAs in preterm infants fed with breast milk and infant formula. Front Nutr 2024; 11:1339919. [PMID: 38304545 PMCID: PMC10830786 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2024.1339919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Breastfeeding not only reduces infection-related morbidity, but also increases growth of preterm infants. Advantages of breast milk (BM) for preterm infants are significant. They continue to be studied. However, because not all preterm infants can receive breastfeeding, bovine-based infant formula (IF) is used as an alternative, which may increase the risk of several preterm complications. Exosomes isolated from biofluids are emerging as biomarkers in research of various diseases. Here, we characterized miRNA contents of exosomes in urine and serum samples of preterm infants who were BM and IF fed and performed transcriptomic analysis of small RNA libraries. We identified significantly up-regulated 6 miRNAs and 10 miRNAs, respectively. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis revealed that target genes of these miRNAs might participate in neuronal development, immunity modulation, detoxification of reactive oxygen species, and transmembrane exchange. Our data suggest that exosome-based systemic screening for preterm infants with breastfeeding might be a screening tool for identifying target molecules involved in therapy for preterm infants in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and for future application as nutraceutical formulations or pharmaceuticals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eun-Bit Kim
- Soonchunhyang Institute of Med-bio Science (SIMS), Soonchunhyang University, Cheonan, Republic of Korea
| | - Jun Hwan Song
- Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital, College of Medicine, Soon-chunhyang University, Cheonan, Republic of Korea
| | - Linh Nguy-Hoang Le
- Department of Integrated Biomedical Science, Soonchunhyang University, Cheonan, Republic of Korea
| | - Ho Kim
- Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital, College of Medicine, Soon-chunhyang University, Cheonan, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Won Koh
- Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital, College of Medicine, Soon-chunhyang University, Cheonan, Republic of Korea
| | - Yekyeng Seo
- Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital, College of Medicine, Soon-chunhyang University, Cheonan, Republic of Korea
| | - Hwal Rim Jeong
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Soonchunhyang University, Cheonan, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun-Taek Kim
- Soonchunhyang Institute of Med-bio Science (SIMS), Soonchunhyang University, Cheonan, Republic of Korea
| | - Seongho Ryu
- Department of Integrated Biomedical Science, Soonchunhyang University, Cheonan, Republic of Korea
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