Genome-wide miRNA profiling of villus and decidua of recurrent spontaneous abortion patients

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are non-coding RNA molecules of about 22 nucleotides that involved in post-transcriptional gene regulation. Evidence indicates that miRNAs play essential roles in endometriosis, pre-eclampsia, infertility and other reproductive system diseases. However, whether miRNAs are involved in recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) is unclear. In this work, we analysed the miRNA expression profiles in six pairs of villus or decidua from RSA patients and normal pregnancy (NP) women using a human miRNA microarray. Some of the chip results were confirmed by RT-qPCR. In the villi of RSA patients, expression of hsa-miR-184, hsa-miR-187 and hsa-miR-125b-2 was significantly higher, while expression of hsa-miR-520f, hsa-miR-3175 and hsa-miR-4672 was significantly lower, comparing with those of NP control. As well, a total of five miRNAs (hsa-miR-517c, hsa-miR-519a-1, hsa-miR-522, hsa-miR-520h and hsa-miR-184) were upregulated in the decidua of RSA patients. The target genes of these differentially expressed miRNAs were predicted by miRWalk, and we speculate a network of miRNA regulating RSA by target genes function on adhesion, apoptosis and angiogenesis. Our study may help clarify the molecular mechanisms which are involved in the progression of RSA, and provide a reference for future research.

MicroRNAs, immune cells and pregnancy

“…130 Additionally, our previous work identified endometrial dysregulation of several miRNAs including miR-10a, 49 133 and in our study profiling miRNAs at the porcine maternal-fetal interface, we identify regulation of blood vessel development/angiogenesis as being the third most important functional cluster increased in endometrium from pregnant pigs versus non-pregnant pigs. 49 Taken together, miRNA regulation of angiogenesis participates in both pathological and physiological angiogenesis, and offers a novel therapeutic avenue to explore.…”

miRNA Regulation of Immune Tolerance in Early Pregnancy

“…Many of these miRNAs regulate immunological pathways. miRNAs including miR‐125b, miR‐133a, miR‐146a, and miR‐155 are all present at higher levels in placental samples or peripheral blood of recurrent pregnancy loss patients . miR‐125b facilitates angiogenesis through interactions with VEGF, miR‐133a is known to regulate expression of the tolerogenic HLAG molecule, while miR‐146a and miR‐155 play important roles in Treg and APC function …”

MicroRNAome in decidua: a new approach to assess the maintenance of pregnancy

“…However, to date, these findings remain controversial and complicated, because only microarray and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) have been used for these analyses (9). The roles of the candidate microRNAs in targeting specific genes and the associated signaling pathways during miscarriage have not been systematically investigated.…”