2018 in review

In 2016, our research showed that low levels of fish oils in the blood increased the risk of preterm delivery.

Since then, our findings have received further support from a paper based on data from Scandinavia. They replicated our findings suggesting again that correcting a woman’s fatty acid profile might prolong pregnancy. A systematic review published in the Cochrane Reviews also found that taking omega-3 supplements during pregnancy may lower the risk of preterm birth.

Borne PhD student, AnnieBelle Sassine, has studied how the maternal fatty acid profile influences the maternal immune system at birth. She has explored the transfer of maternal fatty acids to the foetus, understanding the roles of the key placental transporters.

We will next investigate:

• The best way to correct a fatty acid imbalance
• The benefit of pre-conceptual compared with post conception correction, and
• The impact of changing the fatty acid profile on the maternal immune system.

Borne PhD student, Katerina Georgopoulou, has been working on tracing the origins of pre-eclampsia, a condition that occurs in approximately 5% of pregnancies and is responsible for 10% of preterm births.

Her studies provided critical insights into how the enzyme DDAH can cause pre-eclampsia. DDAH indirectly controls the levels of nitric oxide, which controls the tone of our vessels: high levels cause the relaxation of smooth muscle cells within blood vessels and lower blood pressure; low levels result in vasoconstriction and higher blood pressure.

During pre-eclampsia, DDAH activity is reduced resulting in higher blood pressure in the mother. Importantly, these studies provide the first evidence that altered placental function has an impact on maternal physiology, and mechanistic insights into the conversation between the placenta and the mother.

Borne Clinical Scientist, Francois Dos Santos, is in the first year of his work investigating the impact of heart disease on pregnancy outcomes.

Heart disease is a leading cause of maternal death globally. Around 20% of pregnancies complicated by heart disease deliver preterm.

Understanding the interaction between maternal heart disease and pregnancy will help us to explain dramatic changes in the mother’s cardiovascular system during pregnancy, and the link between heart disease and preterm birth.

The incidence of preterm birth among HIV positive women is roughly double that of HIV negative women. Despite multiple studies, the reasons for this are not well understood.

Borne PhD student Alex Cocker is studying the impact of HIV on the maternal immune system during pregnancy and how it may contribute to preterm birth. He has identified a population of cells modulating immune responses (regulatory T cells) that behave differently in the HIV positive group.

These differences could be driving a more active inflammatory response in the mother and/or foetus which could trigger the onset of preterm labour. Further studies are planned.