Lipidomic analysis of human placental Syncytiotrophoblast microvesicles in adverse pregnancy outcomes

Abstract Problem Syncytiotrophoblast microvesicles (STBM) are shed from placenta into the maternal circulation. STBM circulate in increased amounts in adverse pregnancies, e.g. preeclampsia and recurrent miscarriages (RM). Recently dysregulation of lipid metabolites has been proposed to be associated with their pathogenesis. Lipid composition of STBM in healthy and adverse pregnancies remains unknown. Objective To determine lipid composition of STBM and whether STBM lipid composition differs in pathologic and normal pregnancies. Study design Patients with Preeclampsia ( n  = 6) or history of RM ( n  = 9) (>2 consecutive losses glycerophospholipids (phosphatidylcholine, PC; phosphatidylethanolamine, PE; phosphatidylinositol, PI; phosphatidylglycerol, PG; phosphatidylserine, PS; phosphatidic acid, PA); (ii) sphingolipids (sphingomyelin, SM; ceramide, Cer; Glucosylceramide, GluCer; ganglioside mannoside 3, GM3); (iii) free cholesterol and cholesteryl esters, CE . Results The major lipid classes in STBM were SM, Chol, PS, PC and PI, along with PA and GM3 enrichments. SM/PC ratio showed a unique reversal (3:1) compared to that normally found in human cells or plasma. Level of total PS was significantly upregulated ( p p p p Conclusions Differential lipid expression of STBM in preeclampsia or RM includes those that are implicated in immune response, coagulation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis.