#AI reads Urine# Uncovering Urinary Proteome Differences in Very Preterm Infants with and without Preterm Brain Injury
Published 22 September, 2025
This study focused on very preterm infants (gestational age < 32 weeks) and aimed to explore the differences in urinary protein expression between very preterm infants with and without moderate/severe brain injury (such as periventricular white matter injury and intraventricular hemorrhage, evaluated using the Kidokoro scale and MRI at term-equivalent age [TEA]) through urinary proteomic analysis, so as to clarify the mechanism of brain injury and identify therapeutic targets. Conducted in the neonatal intensive care unit of a hospital in Poland from April 2021 to July 2023, the study enrolled 40 very preterm infants (29 without brain injury and 11 with moderate/severe brain injury). Urine samples were collected at 8 time points: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, and 28 days after birth, and at TEA. Using SWATH-MS technology and bioinformatics analysis, 56 proteins with significant expression differences were identified. Among them, extracellular proteoglycans (NCAN, ACAN, BCAN) associated with neuroprotection were significantly reduced in the brain injury group, while fatty acid-binding proteins (FABP1, FABP3, FABP4, FABP7) decreased over time in the non-injury group but increased in the injury group (which may exacerbate injury). Additionally, pathways such as the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) signaling pathway and extracellular matrix degradation were found to be affected. The study had limitations including a small sample size (especially in the injury group), limited urine collection at TEA, and potential interference from kidney injury or clinical factors. However, it still indicated that urinary proteomics can serve as a non-invasive method to identify early biomarkers of brain injury in very preterm infants, providing directions for understanding the pathological mechanism and intervention.
J Proteome Res. 2025 Sep 9. doi: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.5c00392.
Youhe Gao
Statement: During the preparation of this work the author(s) used Doubao / AI reading for summarizing the content. After using this tool/service, the author(s) reviewed and edited the content as needed and take(s) full responsibility for the content of the published article.
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