Metabolomic analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in preterm infants complicated by respiratory distress syndrome: preliminary results

Abstract

Objective: Metabolomics is a technique used to non-invasively determine a snapshot of the current metabolic status of an organism by analyzing intact tissue or bio-fluids. The aim of the present preliminary study was to analyze metabolic profiles in preterm infants complicated by respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) trough bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) measurement. Methods: Twelve BALF samples collected at birth prior surfactant, post-surfactant during mechanical ventilation and at extubation time-points, were analyzed by proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and Gas chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS). Results: GC–MS analysis identified 25 metabolites of whom 10 had a known molecular structure. They were: undecane, decanoic acid, dodecanoic acid, hexadecanoic acid, octadecanoic acid, hexadecanoic acid methyl ester, 9-octadecanoic acid, tetracosanoic acid, myristic acid, phosphate. These metabolites were over-expressed in BALF collected during mechanical ventilation after surfactant administration. Conclusions: The present preliminary data suggest that metabolic profile in BALF of RDS infants is becoming possible opening a new cue of metabolomics as promising tool in management of sick premature infants.

Keywords::

• BALF
• BPD
• RDS
• metabolomics
• prematurity
• newborn

Acknowledgements

This work takes part to the I.O. PhD International Program and was partially supported by grants to DG from Stella Cometa, Let’s Improve Perinatal Life Foundations, Italy.

Declaration of interest: The funding sources had no role in the study design, data collection, data interpretation, data analysis, or writing of this manuscript.