Up-regulation of fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 due to prenatal tobacco exposure can lead to developmental defects in new born

Abstract

Introduction: Tobacco-smoking is one of the most important risk factor for preterm delivery, pregnancy loss, low birth weight, and fetal growth restriction. It is estimated that approximately 30% of growth-restricted neonates could be independently associated with maternal smoking.

Methods: In this study, gene expression profile, GSE11798, was chosen from GEO database with an aim to perceive change in gene expression signature in new born due to maternal smoking. Enrichment analysis was performed to annotate differentially expressed genes (DEGs) through gene ontology and pathway analysis using DAVID. Protein–protein interactions and module detection of these DEGs were carried out using cytoscape v3.6.0. Thirty umbilical cord tissue samples from 15 smokers and 15 non-smokers pregnant women were included in this analysis.

Results: Twenty-six differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between two groups were selected using GEO2R tool. The DEGs were observed to be participating in biological processes/pathways related to growth releasing hormone, angiogenesis, embryonic skeletal, and cardiac development. Fibroblast growth factor receptor-1 (FGFR1) was identified to be the hub node with 348 interacting partners, which regulates transcription, cell growth, differentiation, and apoptosis. The up-regulation of FGFR1 in umbilical cord tissue may lead to reproductive and developmental complications such as encephalocraniocutaneous lipomatosis, osteoglophonic dysplasia, and Pfeiffer syndrome in new-borns.

Conclusion: The findings manifests the possibility of overcoming these adverse health effects in new born through FGFR1 modulating treatments during pregnancy.

Keywords:

• Birth weight
• PAhs
• pregnancy outcome
• tobacco exposure
• umbilical cord

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

Authors highly acknowledge Indian Council of Medical Research for supporting facilities to carry out the research work in Biomedical Informatics Centre, National Institute of Pathology, New Delhi vide RFC No. BIC/NTF/1/2013-2014 dated 18/02/2013.