Journal
EPIGENOMICS
Volume 13, Issue 13, Pages 995-1012Publisher
FUTURE MEDICINE LTD
DOI: 10.2217/epi-2021-0055
Keywords
chorionic villi; gestational differences; human transcriptome; miRNA; miRNA atlas; miRNome; placenta; pregnancy; stable miRNAs; uncomplicated pregnancies
Categories
Funding
- National Institute of Health [R01 HD091773, R01 HD074368, T32 DK007770, U01 EB026421]
Ask authors/readers for more resources
This study investigates miRNA changes in healthy human placentae across gestation, identifying differentially expressed miRNAs and providing a baseline for future studies on monitoring maternal-fetal health. The research uses next-generation sequencing to characterize the miRNome of first and third trimester human placentae from a large cohort, shedding light on the epigenetic differences in different stages of pregnancy.
Aim: To understand miRNA changes across gestation in healthy human placentae. This is essential before miRNAs can be used as biomarkers or prognostic indicators during pregnancy. Materials & methods: Using next-generation sequencing, we characterize the normative human placenta miRNome in first (n = 113) and third trimester (n = 47). Results & conclusion: There are 801 miRNAs expressed in both first and third trimester, including 182 with similar expression across gestation (p >= 0.05, fold change <= 2) and 180 significantly different (false discovery rate <0.05, fold change >2). Of placenta-specific miRNA clusters, chromosome 14 miRNA cluster decreases across gestation and chromosome 19 miRNA cluster is overall highly expressed. Chromosome 13 clusters are upregulated in first trimester. This work provides a rich atlas of healthy pregnancies to direct functional studies investigating the epigenetic differences in first and third trimester placentae. Lay abstract The human body produces miRNAs which affect the expression of genes and proteins. This study uses next-generation sequencing to identify the miRNA profile of first and third trimester human placentae using a large cohort (n = 113 first trimester; n = 47 third trimester). All pregnancies resulted in healthy babies. We identify miRNAs with significantly different expression between first and third trimester, as well as stably expressed miRNAs. This work provides a baseline for future studies which may use miRNAs to monitor maternal-fetal health throughout pregnancy.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available