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Association between miRNAs in serum at 10–14 gestational weeks and spontaneous preterm delivery

Wikström, Tove ; Kim, Sung Hye ; Leverin, Anna Lena ; Wennerholm, Ulla Britt ; Jacobsson, Bo ; Valentin, Lil LU orcid ; Bennett, Phillip R. ; Terzidou, Vasso and Hagberg, Henrik (2024) In Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica 103(10). p.2013-2023
Abstract

Introduction: Preterm delivery (PTD) is the leading cause of death in children under 5 years of age. Cervical shortening detected by ultrasound can be used to predict PTD, but prediction is not perfect, and complementary diagnostic markers are needed. Recently, specific plasma microribonucleic acid (miRNAs) detected in early second trimester were shown to be associated with spontaneous PTD in high-risk women with a singleton pregnancy. The aim of this study was to explore to what extent these miRNAs are associated with spontaneous PTD and cervical length in a general population. Material and Methods: This study is a nested case–control study within the CERVIX study. The CERVIX study evaluated the ability of cervical length screening... (More)

Introduction: Preterm delivery (PTD) is the leading cause of death in children under 5 years of age. Cervical shortening detected by ultrasound can be used to predict PTD, but prediction is not perfect, and complementary diagnostic markers are needed. Recently, specific plasma microribonucleic acid (miRNAs) detected in early second trimester were shown to be associated with spontaneous PTD in high-risk women with a singleton pregnancy. The aim of this study was to explore to what extent these miRNAs are associated with spontaneous PTD and cervical length in a general population. Material and Methods: This study is a nested case–control study within the CERVIX study. The CERVIX study evaluated the ability of cervical length screening with transvaginal ultrasound to identify women at risk of PTD. In the present study, women who delivered spontaneously <34 weeks (n = 61) were compared with a control group of women who delivered at full term (39 + 0 to 40 + 6 gestational weeks, n = 205). Archived serum samples were analyzed with RT-qPCR for miRNA expression levels of let-7a-5p, miR-150-5p, miR-15b-5p, miR-185-5p, miR-191-5p, miR-19b-3p, miR-23a-3p, miR-374a-5p, and miR-93-5p. The mean relative expression was compared between the groups. Sub-analyses were performed for women delivering <32, <30, and <28 weeks vs the full-term group. Results: The analyzed miRNAs were not significantly differentially expressed in women delivering <34 weeks compared to those delivering at full term. MiR-191-5p and miR-93-5p were significantly overexpressed in women who delivered <32 weeks, and further increase in fold change was observed with decreasing gestational age at delivery. The level of miR-15b-5p was significantly higher in women delivering at <30 weeks compared to those delivering at full term. Conclusions: Our study shows that overexpression of miR-93-5p, miR-15b-5p, and miR-191-5p in serum at early gestation is associated with spontaneous PTD in a general population. Further research is needed to evaluate the potential of these miRNAs as future biomarkers for spontaneous PTD, as well as their pathophysiological role in spontaneous PTD.

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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
cervical length measurement, gene expression profiles, maternal serum screening tests, MicroRNA, preterm birth
in
Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica
volume
103
issue
10
pages
11 pages
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • scopus:85199115474
  • pmid:39034527
ISSN
0001-6349
DOI
10.1111/aogs.14926
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
868fc15d-4a44-4689-abbd-680c2f5750ad
date added to LUP
2024-12-18 14:45:34
date last changed
2024-12-19 03:00:15
@article{868fc15d-4a44-4689-abbd-680c2f5750ad,
  abstract     = {{<p>Introduction: Preterm delivery (PTD) is the leading cause of death in children under 5 years of age. Cervical shortening detected by ultrasound can be used to predict PTD, but prediction is not perfect, and complementary diagnostic markers are needed. Recently, specific plasma microribonucleic acid (miRNAs) detected in early second trimester were shown to be associated with spontaneous PTD in high-risk women with a singleton pregnancy. The aim of this study was to explore to what extent these miRNAs are associated with spontaneous PTD and cervical length in a general population. Material and Methods: This study is a nested case–control study within the CERVIX study. The CERVIX study evaluated the ability of cervical length screening with transvaginal ultrasound to identify women at risk of PTD. In the present study, women who delivered spontaneously &lt;34 weeks (n = 61) were compared with a control group of women who delivered at full term (39 + 0 to 40 + 6 gestational weeks, n = 205). Archived serum samples were analyzed with RT-qPCR for miRNA expression levels of let-7a-5p, miR-150-5p, miR-15b-5p, miR-185-5p, miR-191-5p, miR-19b-3p, miR-23a-3p, miR-374a-5p, and miR-93-5p. The mean relative expression was compared between the groups. Sub-analyses were performed for women delivering &lt;32, &lt;30, and &lt;28 weeks vs the full-term group. Results: The analyzed miRNAs were not significantly differentially expressed in women delivering &lt;34 weeks compared to those delivering at full term. MiR-191-5p and miR-93-5p were significantly overexpressed in women who delivered &lt;32 weeks, and further increase in fold change was observed with decreasing gestational age at delivery. The level of miR-15b-5p was significantly higher in women delivering at &lt;30 weeks compared to those delivering at full term. Conclusions: Our study shows that overexpression of miR-93-5p, miR-15b-5p, and miR-191-5p in serum at early gestation is associated with spontaneous PTD in a general population. Further research is needed to evaluate the potential of these miRNAs as future biomarkers for spontaneous PTD, as well as their pathophysiological role in spontaneous PTD.</p>}},
  author       = {{Wikström, Tove and Kim, Sung Hye and Leverin, Anna Lena and Wennerholm, Ulla Britt and Jacobsson, Bo and Valentin, Lil and Bennett, Phillip R. and Terzidou, Vasso and Hagberg, Henrik}},
  issn         = {{0001-6349}},
  keywords     = {{cervical length measurement; gene expression profiles; maternal serum screening tests; MicroRNA; preterm birth}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{10}},
  pages        = {{2013--2023}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica}},
  title        = {{Association between miRNAs in serum at 10–14 gestational weeks and spontaneous preterm delivery}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/aogs.14926}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/aogs.14926}},
  volume       = {{103}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}