Circulating levels of maternal plasma cell-free pregnancy-associated placenta-specific microRNAs are associated with placental weight

• Published in: Placenta (Eastbourne) Vol. 35; no. 10; pp. 848 - 851
• Main Authors: Miura, K, Morisaki, S, Abe, S, Higashijima, A, Hasegawa, Y, Miura, S, Tateishi, S, Mishima, H, Yoshiura, K, Masuzaki, H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01-10-2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Circulating level; Embryology: invertebrates and vertebrates. Teratology; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Internal Medicine; Maternal plasma; MicroRNAs - blood; Obstetrics and Gynecology; Organ Size - physiology; Placenta - anatomy & histology; Placenta-specific microRNA; Placental weight; Pregnancy; Maternal plasma; Circulating level; Placental weight; Placenta-specific microRNA; Pregnancy; Gene silencing; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Placenta; Mother; Fetal membrane; Body weight; Micro RNA; Plasmocyte
• ISSN: 0143-4004; 1532-3102
• DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2014.06.002

Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between plasma concentration of cell-free pregnancy-associated placenta-specific microRNAs and clinical variables (placental weight, maternal body mass index, and neonatal birth weight). Circulating levels of cell-free pregnancy-associated placenta-specific microRNAs (miR-515-3p, miR-517a, miR-517c and miR-518b) in maternal plasma were measured by quantitative real-time RT-PCR in sixty-two pregnant women. The levels of cell-free pregnancy-associated placenta-specific microRNAs were significantly associated with placental weight, but not associated with body mass index or birth weight. Therefore, the measurement of cell-free pregnancy-associated placenta-specific miRNAs levels in maternal plasma may reflect the pregnancy status related to placenta volume.