[Frontiers in Bioscience E3, 1005-1012, June 1, 2011]

1H NMR-based metabolomic analysis of urine from preterm and term neonates

Luigi Atzori1, Roberto Antonucci2, Luigi Barberini3, Emanuela Locci4, Flaminia Cesare Marincola4, Paola Scano4, Patrizia Cortesi5, Rino Agostiniani5, Riccardo Defraia2, Aalim Weljie6, Diego Gazzolo7, Adolfo Lai4, Vassilios Fanos2

1Department of Toxicology, University of Cagliari, Italy, 2Department of Pediatrics and Clinical Medicine - Section of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, University of Cagliari, Italy, 3Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Cagliari, Italy, 4Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Italy, 5Pediatric Division, Pescia Hospital, Italy, 6Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Canada, 7Department of Maternal, Fetal and Neonatal Medicine, C. Arrigo Children's Hospital, Alessandria, Italy

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Abstract
2. Introduction
3. Materials and methods
3.1. Study population
3.2. Specimen collection and preparation
3.3. NMR spectroscopic analysis
3.4. Data analysis
4. Results
5. Discussion
6. Conclusions
7. Acknowledgements
8. References

1. ABSTRACT

Metabolomics is a technique used to non-invasively determine metabolic status of an organism. Aim of our study was to analyze urinary metabolic profiles in term and preterm infants in order to identify gestational age-related metabolic differences and to predict metabolic maturity at birth. Twenty-six healthy term infants and 41 preterm infants were prospectively enrolled. A urine sample was collected non-invasively within the first hours of life. Samples were analyzed by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy and NMR urine spectra were analyzed by multivariate statistical analysis. Distinct metabolic patterns were found between term infants and preterm infants, as well as between preterm infants of 23-32 weeks' gestation and those of 33-36 weeks' gestation. Individual metabolites discriminating between these groups were hippurate, tryptophan, phenylalanine, malate, tyrosine, hydroxybutyrate, N-acetyl-glutamate, and proline. Metabolomic analysis revealed distinct urinary metabolic profiles in neonates of different gestational ages, and identified the discriminating metabolites. This holistic approach appears to be a promising tool for investigating newborn metabolic maturation over time, and might lead to a tailored management of neonatal disorders.