Integrated multi-omics profiling of amniotic fluid identifies predictive biomarkers for fetal growth restriction trajectories.

Yan Cao; Wenjing Hao; Yan Wang; Chongchong Chai; Youran Li; Ying Liu; Hongyuan Zhu; Yifan Lu; Dong Wang; Yanhong Zhai; Yousheng Yan; Zheng Cao

doi:10.1080/07853890.2026.2718562

PubMed · 42603261

Integrated multi-omics profiling of amniotic fluid identifies predictive biomarkers for fetal growth restriction trajectories.

Yan Cao·Wenjing Hao·Yan Wang·Chongchong Chai·Youran Li·Ying Liu·Hongyuan Zhu·Yifan Lu·Dong Wang·Yanhong Zhai·Yousheng Yan·Zheng Cao

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is a complex condition with highly heterogeneous clinical outcomes, making prenatal distinction between transient and persistent growth failure challenging. This study aims to identify amniotic fluid (AF) biomarkers capable of differentiating distinct FGR trajectories and characterizing persistent growth failure mechanisms. METHODS: Integrated proteomic and metabolomic profiling was performed on AF samples from transient FGR (n = 11), persistent FGR (n = 9), and healthy controls (n = 13). Diagnostic and prognostic models were developed using multivariate analysis. Selected protein candidates were validated via ELISA in an independent cohort (n = 69). RESULTS: Multi-omics analysis revealed distinct molecular signatures for FGR stratification. A two-protein diagnostic panel (PDGFA and phospho-STAT5A) achieved an AUC of 1.000 in the discovery stage and 0.780 in the external validation cohort. For prognostic assessment, a molecular signature including IREB2, HLA-C, and PLXNB2 accurately predicted persistent growth failure from transient recovery (AUC = 0.966). Cross-platform integration highlighted the mass spectrometry-derived WASHC2C as a central hub protein with a significant progressive increase across the control, transient, and persistent groups (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study establishes a multi-omics framework for prenatal FGR stratification. Our findings identify distinct molecular signatures reflecting the intrauterine environment and provide high-performance molecular tools for predicting divergent fetal growth trajectories to guide personalized clinical decision-making.

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Humans Amniotic Fluid Biomarkers Female Fetal Growth Retardation Multiomics Pregnancy Proteomics Prognosis Adult Metabolomics Case-Control Studies Fetal growth restriction Integrated multi-omics amniotic fluid biomarkers prognostic stratification Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

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Yan Cao, Wenjing Hao, Yan Wang, Chongchong Chai, Youran Li, Ying Liu, Hongyuan Zhu, Yifan Lu, Dong Wang, Yanhong Zhai, Yousheng Yan, Zheng Cao. 2026-08-15. Integrated multi-omics profiling of amniotic fluid identifies predictive biomarkers for fetal growth restriction trajectories.. https://doi.org/10.1080/07853890.2026.2718562

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Adult subject Biomarkers subject Case-Control Studies subject Female subject Humans subject Journal Article subject Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't resource Metabolomics subject Multiomics subject

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