Targeted proteomics reveal association between maternal biomarkers and child body weight in the first year of life

Abstract Context The intrauterine environment strongly influences children’s health and development. Distinct cardiovascular biomarkers have been linked to birthweight and later weight gain, with correlations observed in maternal and umbilical cord serum. Objective To describe (1) maternal cardiovascular biomarker patterns during the second and third trimesters and (2) potential associations between these biomarkers and offspring weight at birth and at one year of age. Design Within the LIFE Child Study, serum samples from 86 healthy mothers at 24 and 36 gestational weeks and cord blood at birth were analyzed using the Olink® Target 96 Cardiovascular III panel. Statistical analyses (Wilcoxon test, Spearman correlation, multivariate regression) were performed in R. Setting Community-based cohort, Leipzig, Germany. Patients or Other Participants 86 mother–child pairs from the LIFE Child cohort. Mothers had no pregnancy complications, and all newborns had birthweights between 2500–4500 g. Main Outcome Measure Offspring body weight at one year of age. Results Of 92 maternal serum biomarkers, 88 were detectable. Seventy biomarkers increased significantly from 24 to 36 weeks (p<0.004). Several biomarkers measured at the 36th gestational week correlated with birthweight and one-year weight. After adjustment for maternal age, BMI, and offspring sex, no associations remained with birthweight. However, maternal paraoxonase 3 (PON3) (p=0.037, 95% CI: –0.52, –0.02) and integrin subunit beta 2 (ITGB2) (p=0.038, 95% CI: 0.04, 1.12) were significantly associated with child weight at one year. Conclusions In our cohort, maternal PON3 and ITGB2 were independently associated with early postnatal growth, potentially implicating these biomarkers in fetal programming.