Maternal plasma cell-free RNA as a predictive test for fetal lung maturation.

ABSTRACT:

Background

A lack of tests to assess fetal development impacts decision making around antenatal steroid use in women at risk of preterm birth. We analyzed the expression of 21 cfRNA targets related to human fetal lung maturation. Discovery studies were performed using maternal and fetal sheep plasma, with results compared to fetal lung mRNA expression. These findings were then validated in first, second, and third trimester human maternal plasma samples.

Methods

Discovery studies utilized a preterm sheep model of pregnancy. Date mated ewes received saline (control n = 6), or antenatal steroids (dexamethasone n = 12) (betamethasone n = 11) prior to delivery and ventilation. We analyzed the expression of 21 human cfRNA targets related to lung maturation in maternal and fetal s

SUBMITTER: Carter SWD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12305955 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature