Using environmental metabolomics to investigate risk factors for recurrent preterm birth in an Israeli birth cohort

Project Details

Description

Preterm birth (PTB), among the most prevalent pregnancy complications, is associated with both immediate and |ong—term offspring mortality and severe morbidities. Although strategies to prevent PTB have been practiced for decades, PTB rates have not declined, suggesting several factors and mechanisms involved in PTB occurrence. Exposure to elevated particulate matter (PM) has been identified as a leading environmental risk factor contributing to the global burden of mortality and morbidity, including PTB. Despite this, biological mechanisms explaining how maternal PM exposures may elicit PTB and affect post—natal health are still largely unknown. Progress in omics—based technologies, including high- resolution metabolomics (HRM) has emerged as an innovative tool for estimating internal exposures to environmental agents and the corresponding biological response. HRM, an analytical platform with the ability to quantify numerous exogenous toxicants and endogenous metabolites in small biospecimen volumes, has played a crucial role in this advancement. Here, we aim to: a) examine associations between PM, PTB and PTB recurrence; b) conduct a metabo|ome—wide association study and examine differences in metabolic profile expression in women by PM2.5 exposures and prior PTB history; and c) conduct an integrated analysis of maternal PM exposures, serum metabolome, and the PTB recurrence risk. In applying an environmental metabolomics analysis in this exceptionally we||—characterized prospective birth cohort, we expect the proposed study to contribute important mechanistic insights into the link between PM exposure and PTB risk, contributing towards early PTB risk identification and tailored and precise inten/entions geared towards PTB prevention.

StatusActive
Effective start/end date1/01/23 → …

Funding

  • United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation (BSF)

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