Deep Sequencing Identified Dysregulated Circulating MicroRNAs in Late Onset Preeclampsia

Background/Aim: To characterize global microRNA (miRNA) expression profile in the first trimester maternal plasma of women who subsequently develop late-onset preeclampsia (LOPE) compared to uncomplicated pregnancies. Materials and Methods: Five first trimester plasma samples from women who developed LOPE and 5 controls were analyzed using next generation sequencing technology (NGS) followed by target prediction, Gene Ontology analysis and pathway identification. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was performed for confirmation in an independent cohort of 12 LOPE cases and 12 controls. Results: miR-23b-5p and miR99b-5p were down-regulated by >1.5 fold in LOPE complicated pregnancies (p value <0.05) compared to controls. Target prediction showed that the major targets of these miRNAs are associated with glycometabolism and immune response. Conclusion: miR-23b-5p and miR-99b-5p are possibly implicated in the pathogenic mechanisms leading to the induction of LOPE and may serve as candidate non-invasive biomarkers for early prediction and prevention.