Lipidomic signatures of tracheal aspirate diagnostic biomarkers in preterm infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia

Abstract

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a significant pulmonary disorder that often leads to prolonged respiratory complications in preterm infants. This study aimed to characterize the lipidomic profiles in the tracheal aspirate (TA) of extremely preterm infants to identify specific lipid signatures associated with the development of BPD. This study involved 7 infants with BPD and 10 extremely preterm infants without BPD. TA samples were obtained at intubation from the non-BPD infants and at intubation as well as 7 days post-intubation from the BPD infants. Untargeted lipidomic analysis was performed to characterize the lipidomic signatures of TA. A total of 1189 lipid compounds were identified in the TA of infants with BPD and without BPD, with 298 significantly different lipid metabolites between the two groups at intubation. Notably, phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine were significantly decreased, while triglycerides, ceramides, phosphorylated fatty acid analogs, and diglycerides were significantly increased in the infants with BPD. Pathway analysis revealed enrichment of differential lipids in pathways related to insulin resistance, vitamin digestion and absorption, lipolysis regulation in adipocytes, glycerolipid metabolism, fat digestion and absorption, and cholesterol metabolism. After intubation, infants with BPD exhibited 26 up-regulated and 19 down-regulated lipid metabolites, with enrichment primarily in metabolic pathways, including glycerophospholipid metabolism and autophagy.

Conclusion: This study identified distinct lipidomic alterations in the TA of BPD infants, suggesting the potential of these lipid profiles as early diagnostic biomarkers and as therapeutic intervention targets.

What is known: • BPD is a serious pulmonary complication in preterm infants. Lipid synthesis and metabolism are vital for normal lung development.

What is new: • Distinct lipidomic profiles in tracheal aspirate differentiate infants with and without BPD. • Tracheal aspirate lipid profiles show strong potential as novel early diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for BPD.

Keywords: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia; Lipidomics; Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry; Preterm; Tracheal aspirate.