C1q and tumor necrosis factor-related protein 3 is present in human cord blood and is associated with fetal growth

• CTRP3 is present in cord blood and might be involved in fetal growth.
• LGA infants had significantly higher CTRP3 levels than AGA infants.
• CTRP3 levels were positively corrected with fetal and placental variables.

BackgroundTo determine the presence of C1q and tumor necrosis factor-related protein 3 (CTRP3) in cord blood and its relationship with fetal growth among Chinese newborns.MethodsThis pilot study recruited 126 infants (small for gestational age [SGA], n = 34; appropriate for gestational age [AGA], n = 60; large for gestational age [LGA], n = 32); cord blood CTRP3 levels were measured, and fetal growth parameters were collected.ResultsMedian (25–75th percentile) CTRP3 levels in the SGA, AGA, and LGA groups were 297.2 (236.4–360.2), 297.5 (261.0–369.9), and 368.6 (298.5–507.1) ng/ml, respectively (P = 0.01). LGA infants had higher CTRP3 levels than AGA infants (multiple linear regression analysis; P = 0.01). The CTRP3 levels were positively correlated with birth weight (r = 0.25, P < 0.01), Ponderal index (r = 0.28, P < 0.01), and placental weight (r = 0.20, P = 0.03) in the total study population. In the subgroup analysis, CTRP3 levels were negatively correlated with birth length z scores (r = − 0.39, P = 0.03) and were positively correlated with the Ponderal index (r = 0.43, P = 0.02) only in the SGA group; no other significant correlations were observed. The CTRP3 levels were similar between the sexes (P = NS).ConclusionsCTRP3 is present in cord blood and might be involved in fetal growth.