Alterations of the paired maternal fecal microbiota and neonatal meconium microbiota in newborns from pregnant women with hypertensive disorders

BackgroundHypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) pose significant risks to both maternal and fetal health and have been associated with alterations in the maternal gut microbiota. However, the impact of HDP on neonatal microbiota remains poorly understood. This study aimed to characterize the gut...

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Main Authors: Heng Yang, Zhijiang He, Jianfen Lai, Jing Yang, Qianrong Huang, Ying Chang, Mingyuan Tian, Hongli Huang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-04-01
Series:Frontiers in Microbiology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2025.1567721/full
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author Heng Yang
Zhijiang He
Jianfen Lai
Jing Yang
Qianrong Huang
Ying Chang
Mingyuan Tian
Hongli Huang
author_facet Heng Yang
Zhijiang He
Jianfen Lai
Jing Yang
Qianrong Huang
Ying Chang
Mingyuan Tian
Hongli Huang
author_sort Heng Yang
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundHypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) pose significant risks to both maternal and fetal health and have been associated with alterations in the maternal gut microbiota. However, the impact of HDP on neonatal microbiota remains poorly understood. This study aimed to characterize the gut microbiota of pregnant women with HDP and evaluate its potential influence on the meconium microbiota of their newborns.MethodsA cohort of 67 pregnant women, including 36 diagnosed with HDP (HDP group) and 31 healthy, age-matched controls (HC group), along with their offspring, were recruited. Fecal samples collected during the third trimester and meconium samples from the newborns were subjected to microbial community profiling via 16S rRNA gene sequencing.ResultsPrincipal coordinate analysis (PCoA) based on Bray-Curtis distances revealed significant differences in microbial community composition between the HDP and HC groups in both maternal and neonatal samples. Subgroup analyses, stratified by HDP severity and medication use, further delineated distinct microbial profiles relative to controls. Notably, both maternal and neonatal microbiota in the HDP group exhibited increased abundances of Enterobacter, Klebsiella, and Sphingomonas, coupled with a reduction in Acidovorax, Azospirillum, Caulobacter, Flavobacterium, Magnetospirillum, and Rubrivivax compared to the HC group. Moreover, the P4-PWY pathway, which is involved in the biosynthesis of L-lysine, L-threonine, and L-methionine, was differentially represented in both maternal and neonatal microbiota in the HDP group. These parallel patterns suggest an intergenerational concordance associated with HDP.ConclusionThis study demonstrates significant alterations in the microbial communities of both maternal fecal and neonatal meconium samples in the context of HDP. The findings highlight the importance of further research to elucidate the long-term health implications of HDP-associated microbiota shifts on offspring.
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spelling doaj-art-eccc64092b5c4af5a0bd79e81bfd091d2025-08-20T02:26:22ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Microbiology1664-302X2025-04-011610.3389/fmicb.2025.15677211567721Alterations of the paired maternal fecal microbiota and neonatal meconium microbiota in newborns from pregnant women with hypertensive disordersHeng Yang0Zhijiang He1Jianfen Lai2Jing Yang3Qianrong Huang4Ying Chang5Mingyuan Tian6Hongli Huang7Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shenzhen Luohu Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Shenzhen, ChinaDepartment of Paediatrics, Shenzhen University General Hospital, Shenzhen, ChinaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shenzhen Luohu Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Shenzhen, ChinaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shenzhen Luohu Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Shenzhen, ChinaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shenzhen Luohu Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Shenzhen, ChinaDepartment of Geriatrics, Chongqing General Hospital, Chongqing University, Chongqing, ChinaDepartment of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, ChinaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shenzhen Luohu Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Shenzhen, ChinaBackgroundHypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) pose significant risks to both maternal and fetal health and have been associated with alterations in the maternal gut microbiota. However, the impact of HDP on neonatal microbiota remains poorly understood. This study aimed to characterize the gut microbiota of pregnant women with HDP and evaluate its potential influence on the meconium microbiota of their newborns.MethodsA cohort of 67 pregnant women, including 36 diagnosed with HDP (HDP group) and 31 healthy, age-matched controls (HC group), along with their offspring, were recruited. Fecal samples collected during the third trimester and meconium samples from the newborns were subjected to microbial community profiling via 16S rRNA gene sequencing.ResultsPrincipal coordinate analysis (PCoA) based on Bray-Curtis distances revealed significant differences in microbial community composition between the HDP and HC groups in both maternal and neonatal samples. Subgroup analyses, stratified by HDP severity and medication use, further delineated distinct microbial profiles relative to controls. Notably, both maternal and neonatal microbiota in the HDP group exhibited increased abundances of Enterobacter, Klebsiella, and Sphingomonas, coupled with a reduction in Acidovorax, Azospirillum, Caulobacter, Flavobacterium, Magnetospirillum, and Rubrivivax compared to the HC group. Moreover, the P4-PWY pathway, which is involved in the biosynthesis of L-lysine, L-threonine, and L-methionine, was differentially represented in both maternal and neonatal microbiota in the HDP group. These parallel patterns suggest an intergenerational concordance associated with HDP.ConclusionThis study demonstrates significant alterations in the microbial communities of both maternal fecal and neonatal meconium samples in the context of HDP. The findings highlight the importance of further research to elucidate the long-term health implications of HDP-associated microbiota shifts on offspring.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2025.1567721/fullhypertensive disorders of pregnancypre-eclampsiagestational hypertensionmaternal fecal microbial communityneonatal meconium microbiota
spellingShingle Heng Yang
Zhijiang He
Jianfen Lai
Jing Yang
Qianrong Huang
Ying Chang
Mingyuan Tian
Hongli Huang
Alterations of the paired maternal fecal microbiota and neonatal meconium microbiota in newborns from pregnant women with hypertensive disorders
Frontiers in Microbiology
hypertensive disorders of pregnancy
pre-eclampsia
gestational hypertension
maternal fecal microbial community
neonatal meconium microbiota
title Alterations of the paired maternal fecal microbiota and neonatal meconium microbiota in newborns from pregnant women with hypertensive disorders
title_full Alterations of the paired maternal fecal microbiota and neonatal meconium microbiota in newborns from pregnant women with hypertensive disorders
title_fullStr Alterations of the paired maternal fecal microbiota and neonatal meconium microbiota in newborns from pregnant women with hypertensive disorders
title_full_unstemmed Alterations of the paired maternal fecal microbiota and neonatal meconium microbiota in newborns from pregnant women with hypertensive disorders
title_short Alterations of the paired maternal fecal microbiota and neonatal meconium microbiota in newborns from pregnant women with hypertensive disorders
title_sort alterations of the paired maternal fecal microbiota and neonatal meconium microbiota in newborns from pregnant women with hypertensive disorders
topic hypertensive disorders of pregnancy
pre-eclampsia
gestational hypertension
maternal fecal microbial community
neonatal meconium microbiota
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2025.1567721/full
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