Fig. 4: SPINT1 is reduced in preterm fetal growth restriction.

SPINT1 mRNA (a, n = 19 control, n = 19 fetal growth restriction - FGR) and protein expression (b, n = 22 control, n = 12 FGR) were significantly reduced in placentas from cases of preterm fetal growth restriction (FGR who were delivered <34 weeks’ gestation and had a birthweight <10th centile) relative to gestation matched controls. Plasma SPINT1 concentrations were significantly reduced in women with preterm FGR relative to concentrations in women with healthy pregnancies, where bloods were collected at the same gestations (c, n = 15 control, n = 9 FGR). The area under the receiver operated curve for data shown in c was 0.948 (d). In a mouse model of hypoxia-induced fetal growth restriction, SPINT1 mRNA (e, n = 9 normoxic placentas, n = 9 hypoxic placentas from separate litters) and protein (f, n = 13 normoxic placentas, n = 11 hypoxic placentas from separate litters) expression in the placenta was significantly reduced. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001, ****p < 0.0001 using two-tailed Mann–Whitney U tests. Individual symbols represent an individual patient, placental isolation or placenta. AUC—area under the ROC curve, with 95% confidence intervals given in brackets. Data depicted for a–c, e, f are mean ± s.e.m. Source data included as a Source Data file.