Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41078592›Full record

ArticleJournal of extracellular biology2025

Amniotic Fluid Extracellular Vesicle Properties Evolve With Gestational Age and Reflect Fetal Development.

Ishara Atukorala, Sally Beard, Ching-Seng Ang, Hamish Brown, Swetha Raghavan, Natasha de Alwis, Bianca Fato, Natalie Binder, Natalie Hannan, Lisa Hui

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of extracellular biology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Ishara AtukoralaDepartment of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Newborn Health, Melbourne Medical School The University of Melbourne Heidelberg Victoria Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0194-5877
Sally BeardWalter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research Parkville Victoria Australia.
Ching-Seng AngBio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute The University of Melbourne Parkville Victoria Australia.
Hamish BrownBio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute The University of Melbourne Parkville Victoria Australia.
Swetha RaghavanDepartment of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Newborn Health, Melbourne Medical School The University of Melbourne Heidelberg Victoria Australia.
Natasha de AlwisMercy Perinatal Mercy Hospital for Women Heidelberg Victoria Australia.
Bianca FatoMercy Perinatal Mercy Hospital for Women Heidelberg Victoria Australia.
Natalie BinderMercy Perinatal Mercy Hospital for Women Heidelberg Victoria Australia.
Natalie HannanMercy Perinatal Mercy Hospital for Women Heidelberg Victoria Australia.
Lisa HuiDepartment of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Newborn Health, Melbourne Medical School The University of Melbourne Heidelberg Victoria Australia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Amniotic fluid (AF) is a valuable source of extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from the fetoplacental unit. Preclinical and clinical studies have highlighted promising applications of AF-EVs and their role in cellular communication, yet our understanding of AF-EV physiology remains limited. This study aimed to examine the physiological importance of AF-EVs in fetal development from the second trimester to term gestation. We obtained AF samples from routine second-trimester amniocentesis and prelabour Caesarean section at term. We isolated EVs using a combination of differential centrifugation, filtration and ultracentrifugation and characterised them using nanoparticle tracking analysis, cryo-electron microscopy and Western blotting. The differential EV proteome was analysed using label-free proteomics. We assessed the second trimester and term AF-EV properties through an enrichment analysis. The EV size and protein enrichment difference revealed a gestational-age-dependent variation in the predominant EV subtype. Second-trimester-derived EVs were enriched in ectosomes, while term EVs contained a significant proportion of exosomes. We identified several morphologies of AF-EVs, including unilamellar, multilamellar, multicompartmental and granular-centred EVs, across gestational ages. Proteomics analysis of AF-EVs identified 4137 proteins with high confidence, of which 1090 exhibited significant differential enrichment between the two groups. Second-trimester-enriched AF-EV proteins represented molecule assembly processes, metabolism and organogenesis. At term, AF-EV proteins corresponded to impending newborn functions such as immunity and digestion. In conclusion, we provide compelling evidence that EV biogenesis and secretion in the fetoplacental unit undergo significant alterations across gestational ages, revealing a complex and dynamic physiology and intercellular communication that adapts to the needs of the developing fetus.

Indexed as

amniotic fluidextracellular vesiclesfetal physiologypregnancyproteomics

Identifiers

PMID41078592
PMCPMC12508267

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.