Comparative Proteome Profile of Placental Sub-anatomical regions

Placental dysfunction has been associated with various pregnancy complications leading to both maternal and fetal death and long-term consequences, however, the placenta is one of the least studied organs within the human body. In this pilot study, protein signature of three healthy placentae was measured using label free quantification mass spectrometry. Each placenta was sampled in five sample sites and three sub-anatomical regions. Differentially expressed proteins were identified considering the effect between sample site location and sub-anatomical region on LFQ protein. After sub-anatomical comparison of DEPs, functional analyses were conducted. The placenta specific disease map NaviCenta was used to focus functional analysis results to the placenta specific context. Subsequently, functional analysis using general, senescence, and mitochondria specific functional analysis was conducted. Two-way ANOVA revealed that the effect of sub-anatomical region on protein intensity is not the same across ample sites and the proteomic makeup differs between sub-anatomical regions. A decrease in anti-senescent proteins within the maternal sub-anatomical region, and an increase in proteins associated with a switch from ATP to fatty acid consumption as a source of energy between middle and fetal sub-anatomical regions were apparent, concluding that sub-anatomical regions must be considered in future placenta studies.