Abstract
BACKGROUND: Advances in omics technologies have enabled precise analysis of protein abundance. This study applies such methods to investigate urinary proteomic quantitative changes associated with prematurity. METHODS: Urine samples were collected from very-low-gestational-age (VLGA) infants (n = 29) without premature brain damage, as assessed using the Kidokoro scale and magnetic resonance imaging at term-equivalent age, and from full-term infants (n = 19) on the 1(st), 2(nd), 3(rd), 4(th), 6(th) and 8(th) days of life. SWATH-MS analysis of the urine proteome, combined with bioinformatics, was utilized for the identification of regulated urinary proteins and altered functional pathways. RESULTS: We identified 61 proteins that were significantly differentially abundant in urine throughout the study. The regulated urinary proteins were enriched in functional domains related to the immune system, hemostasis, and complement and coagulation cascades, indicating underdevelopment in VLGA infants. Conversely, the augmented pathways included extracellular matrix organization, cholesterol metabolism and PPAR signaling. CONCLUSIONS: The urinary proteome of VLGA infants differed significantly from that of term neonates, revealing protein profiles linked to immune system immaturity and hemostasis, altered metabolism and perturbed extracellular matrix metabolism. This study underscores how prematurity affects the urinary proteome, offering insights into the molecular pathways influenced by premature birth. IMPACT: The urinary proteome of premature newborns differs from the urinary proteome of full-term newborns; analysis of urine proteins indicates the functional consequences of prematurity. In our study, we tested urine on the 1(st), 2(nd), 3(rd), 4(th), 6(th) and 8(th) days of life, which increased the reliability of the data. Examination of the urinary proteome at the first week of life allows us to demonstrate the functional consequences of prematurity. Category of study: basic science.