Research conducted at the University of Oulu and Oulu University Hospital suggests that factors related to maternal weight are reflected in signaling particles produced by the maternal microbiome not only in the intestine but also in the amniotic fluid. This finding indicates that the influence of the microbiota may extend to the fetal development environment. This result is particularly interesting because currently little is known about the factors that influence microbiota signaling within the fetal environment.
The study analyzed stool and amniotic fluid samples from 60 pregnant women. Researchers investigated how maternal factors during pregnancy affect tiny particles produced by the body’s microbiome known as extracellular vesicles. These are signaling particles released by bacteria that allow them to communicate with each other and influence the host’s cells.
Microbiota-derived vesicles are probably one of the most important communication mechanisms between microorganisms and cells in our bodies. The fetal environment refers to the conditions surrounding the fetus within the uterus, including amniotic fluid. For example, microbiota signaling within the fetal environment and changes in that signaling can have profound effects on the development of the fetal immune system. ”
Jenni Turunen, Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Oulu
The researchers found that the profile of microbiota-derived vesicles in both the intestine and amniotic fluid differed between mothers. Maternal overweight, obesity, gestational diabetes, and weight gain >15 kg during pregnancy were specifically associated with microbiota-derived vesicle profiles in amniotic fluid. These mothers had lower proportions of vesicles produced by specific bacterial groups than other study participants.
Previous studies have identified an association between maternal weight and microbiota composition during pregnancy. Additionally, it has long been thought that the fetus develops in a sterile environment. The newly published study is one of the first to investigate interactions between microbiota-derived vesicles and pregnancy-related factors, with a specific focus on the fetal environment.
Microbiome-derived vesicles could offer new opportunities to monitor health during pregnancy, Turunen said.
“In the future, for example, microbiota-derived vesicles could serve as biomarkers of maternal or fetal health. However, before we can consider clinical applications, we need a deeper understanding of the function of these vesicles in the body. Our research group is already conducting further studies to investigate these questions,” says Turunen.
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Reference magazines:
Turunen, J. others. (2026). Maternal factors are associated with microbiota-derived extracellular vesicle profiles during pregnancy: a clinical cohort study. BMC Medicine. DOI: 10.1186/s12916-026-04960-3. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12916-026-04960-3
