INTRODUCTION: The pathogenesis of preterm labor is fragmentarily explained. The most widely accepted theory points out to infection and inflammation as possible causes, which can be mediated by potentially different factors, including sphingolipid mediators. Sphingolipids are a class of lipids that have been shown as important mediators in various cell processes such as: proliferation, growth, apoptosis, stress response, necrosis and inflammation. The aim of the study was to assess plasma concentrations of selected sphingolipids in patients with preterm labor. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We used ultra-high performance liquid chromatography with triple mass spectrometry (UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS) to assess plasma concentrations of the 11 sphingolipids in patients presenting with symptoms of preterm labor (n=61) and threatened preterm labor (n=40). RESULTS: We observed a statistically significant increase (p-value<0.004) in plasma concentrations of C16-Cer in patients with preterm labor as compared to the control group. We also found C16-Cer to be the best predictor of preterm labor in the group of patients with symptoms occurring after 32 weeks of gestation. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings show a possible involvement of selected sphingolipids, especially C16-Cer, in the pathogenesis of preterm labor. Their role as predictors of preterm delivery needs to be validated in the future on larger group of patients.

Biomedical Research Center University Hospital Hradec Kralove Hradec Kralove Czech Republic

Department of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics Medical University of Bialystok J Waszyngtona 15A 15 269 Bialystok Poland

Department of Gynecologic Oncology Oncology Center in Bialystok ul Ogrodowa 12 15 057 Bialystok Poland

Department of Nephrology with Dialysis Centre Medical University of Bialystok ul Zurawia 14 15 540 Bialystok Poland

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Institute for the Health of Women and Children Sahlgrenska University Hospital Göteborg Sweden; Department of Genes and Environment Division of Epidemiology Norwegian Institute of Public Health Oslo Norway

Department of Obstetrics and Pathology of Pregnancy Medical University of Lublin 20 081 Lublin Poland

Department of Perinatology Medical University of Bialystok ul Marii Sklodowskiej Curie 24a 15 276 Bialystok Poland

Department of Physiology Medical University of Bialystok ul Mickiewicza 2C 15 222 Bialystok Poland

Institute of Obstetric and Emergency Medicine University of Rzeszow 37 710 Zurawica Poland

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