10.6084/m9.figshare.6959855.v1
Mohammad L. Rahman
Mohammad L.
Rahman
Liming Liang
Liming
Liang
Linda Valeri
Linda
Valeri
Li Su
Li
Su
Zhaozhong Zhu
Zhaozhong
Zhu
Shangzhi Gao
Shangzhi
Gao
Golam Mostofa
Golam
Mostofa
Qazi Qamruzzaman
Qazi
Qamruzzaman
Russ Hauser
Russ
Hauser
Andrea Baccarelli
Andrea
Baccarelli
David C. Christiani
David C.
Christiani
Regulation of birthweight by placenta-derived miRNAs: evidence from an arsenic-exposed birth cohort in Bangladesh
Taylor & Francis Group
2018
microRNA
placenta
birth weight
gestational age
epigenetics
arsenic
miR-1290
miR-195
miR-328
2018-08-13 07:36:22
Dataset
https://tandf.figshare.com/articles/dataset/Regulation_of_birthweight_by_placenta-derived_miRNAs_evidence_from_an_arsenic-exposed_birth_cohort_in_Bangladesh/6959855
<p>Altered expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) is implicated in fetal growth. However, the mechanisms by which placenta-derived miRNAs regulate birthweight are not well understood. In Phase 1, we compared the expression of 754 miRNAs in the placenta from two extreme birthweight groups (0.8–2.2 kg vs. 3.3–3.9 kg, n = 77 each) selected from an arsenic-exposed Bangladeshi birth cohort (n = 1,141). We identified 49 miRNAs associated with the extreme birthweight groups and/or gestational age in Phase 1, which were further analyzed in Phase 2 among 364 randomly selected mother-infant pairs. Gestational age was determined by ultrasound. Causal mediation analysis was used to estimate the effect of miRNAs on birthweight considering gestational age a mediator, adjusting for cord blood arsenic and other risk factors. miR-1290, miR-195, and let-7g showed significant inverse associations with gestational age, while miR-328 showed significant positive association [false discovery rate (FDR) <0.05]. Via changing gestational age, miR-1290, miR-195, and miR-27a showed significant inverse associations with birthweight, while miR-328 and miR-324-5p showed significant positive associations (FDR <0.05). The effect of miRNAs on birthweight varied by gestational age (for miR-1290, miR-195, miR-328) and <i>in utero</i> arsenic exposure (for miR-1290): stronger effect was observed among infants delivered early in gestation or exposed to higher concentrations of arsenic in cord blood. Gene enrichment analysis with <i>in silico</i> predicted targets identified cell proliferation, inflammation, apoptosis, insulin, and IGF family signaling cascades associated with these miRNAs. Future studies are warranted to replicate these findings and assess these miRNAs as early biomarkers of fetal growth.</p>