Proteomics of amniotic fluid

Abstract

Amniotic fluid is fundamental for the development of the fetus. Many proteins detected in the amniotic fluid are already present at a very early stage of gestation, whereas other proteins are detected only at the end of the pregnancy. The concentration of a given protein in amniotic fluid is governed not only by fetal, placental, or maternal synthesis and degradation, but also by exchanges between the mother and the fetus through the placenta. Maternofetal transfer of proteins involves several different mechanisms such as first-order process or active transport. Consequently, the concentration of each amniotic fluid protein results from a balance between opposing dynamic metabolic and physiological processes, which proceed simultaneously. Thus, proteomics that allows simultaneous study of a multitude of proteins may be of importance to gain insight into the physiology of amniotic fluid as well as to identify potential markers of diseases during pregnancy. Here we present a review of proteomic studies of normal amniotic fluid and describe alterations in the amniotic fluid proteome that occur during pregnancy.