Work

Mid-pregnancy Maternal Blood Nitric Oxide-Related Gene and miRNA Expression are Associated with Preterm Birth

Year: 2021

Type: article

Abstract: Aim: The nitric oxide (NO) pathway modulates inflammation and may influence birth timing. Patients & methods: Case–control analysis of 136 pregnant women with RNA obtained <28 weeks; n = 212 mRNAs and n = 108 miRNAs in the NO pathway were evaluated. NO-pathway mRNA and miRNA transcript counts in women delivering preterm versus at term were compared, miRNA–mRNA expression levels correlated and prediction models generated. Results: Fourteen genes were differentially expressed in women delivering <37 weeks; 13/14 were also differentially expressed in those delivering <34 weeks (q <0.10) versus term births. Multiple miRNA-mRNA pairs were correlated. Models with gene expression better predicted prematurity than models with only clinical or nongenomic predictors. Conclusion: Maternal blood NO pathway-related mRNA and miRNA expression is associated with prematurity.

Source: Epigenomics

DOI: 10.2217/epi-2020-0346

Authors: Tracy A Manuck, Lauren A Eaves, Julia E Rager, Rebecca C Fry

Institution: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Language: English

Topic: Preterm Birth and Chorioamnionitis

Subfield: Epidemiology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities