Cord Blood Proteomic Profiles, Birth Weight, and Early Life Growth Trajectories
Authors: Van Pee Thessa , Martens Dries S. , Alfano Rossella , Engelen Liesa , Sleurs Hanne , Rasking Leen , Plusquin Michelle , Nawrot Tim S. 
Published: May 2024

Importance

The cord blood proteome, a repository of proteins derived from both mother and fetus, might offer valuable insights into the physiological and pathological state of the fetus. However, its association with birth weight and growth trajectories early in life remains unexplored.

Objective

To identify cord blood proteins associated with birth weight and the birth weight ratio (BWR) and to evaluate the associations of these cord blood proteins with early growth trajectories.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This cohort study included 288 mother-child pairs from the ongoing prospective Environmental Influence on Early Aging birth cohort study. Newborns were recruited from East-Limburg Hospital in Genk, Belgium, between February 2010 and November 2017 and followed up until ages 4 to 6 years. Data were analyzed from February 2022 to September 2023.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The outcome of interest was the associations of 368 inflammatory-related cord blood proteins with birth weight or BWR and with early life growth trajectories (ie, rapid growth at age 12 months and weight, body mass index [BMI] z score, waist circumference, and overweight at age 4-6 years) using multiple linear regression models. The BWR was calculated by dividing the birth weight by the median birth weight of the population-specific reference growth curve, considering parity, sex, and gestational age. Results are presented as estimates or odds ratios (ORs) for each doubling in proteins.

Results

The sample included 288 infants (125 [43.4%] male; mean [SD] gestation age, 277.2 [11.6] days). The mean (SD) age of the child at the follow-up examination was 4.6 (0.4) years old. After multiple testing correction, there were significant associations of birth weight and BWR with 7 proteins: 2 positive associations: afamin (birth weight: coefficient, 341.16 [95% CI, 192.76 to 489.50]) and secreted frizzled-related protein 4 (SFRP4; birth weight: coefficient, 242.60 [95% CI, 142.77 to 342.43]; BWR: coefficient, 0.07 [95% CI, 0.04 to 0.10]) and 5 negative associations: cadherin EGF LAG 7-pass G-type receptor 2 (CELSR2; birth weight: coefficient, −237.52 [95% CI, −343.15 to −131.89]), ephrin type-A receptor 4 (EPHA4; birth weight: coefficient, −342.78 [95% CI, −463.10 to −222.47]; BWR: coefficient, −0.11 [95% CI, −0.14 to −0.07]), SLIT and NTRK-like protein 1 (SLITRK1; birth weight: coefficient, −366.32 [95% CI, −476.66 to −255.97]; BWR: coefficient, −0.11 [95% CI, −0.15 to −0.08]), transcobalamin-1 (TCN1; birth weight: coefficient, −208.75 [95% CI, −305.23 to −112.26]), and unc-5 netrin receptor D (UNC5D; birth weight: coefficient, −209.27 [95% CI, −295.14 to −123.40]; BWR: coefficient, −0.07 [95% CI, −0.09 to −0.04]). Further evaluation showed that 2 proteins were still associated with rapid growth at age 12 months (afamin: OR, 0.32 [95% CI, 0.11-0.88]; TCN1: OR, 2.44 [95% CI, 1.26-4.80]). At age 4 to 6 years, CELSR2, EPHA4, SLITRK1, and UNC5D were negatively associated with weight (coefficients, −1.33 to −0.68 kg) and body mass index z score (coefficients, −0.41 to −0.23), and EPHA4, SLITRK1, and UNC5D were negatively associated with waist circumference (coefficients, −1.98 to −0.87 cm). At ages 4 to 6 years, afamin (OR, 0.19 [95% CI, 0.05-0.70]) and SLITRK1 (OR, 0.32 [95% CI, 0.10-0.99]) were associated with lower odds for overweight.

Conclusions and Relevance

This cohort study found 7 cord blood proteins associated with birth weight and growth trajectories early in life. Overall, these findings suggest that stressors that could affect the cord blood proteome during pregnancy might have long-lasting associations with weight and body anthropometrics.