Genome-wide microRNA expression profiling in placentas from pregnant women exposed to BPA.
BACKGROUND
Bisphenol A (BPA) is an environmental compounds is known to possess endocrine disruption potentials. Bisphenol A has epigenetic effects as deregulated expression of microRNAs; such epigenetic marks can induce up/down alterations in gene expression that may persist throughout a lifetime. Bisphenol A (BPA) exposure has been documented in pregnant women, but consequences for development of offspring after BPA exposure during pregnancy are not yet widely studied. Therefore, the aim of this study was to gain a comprehensive understanding of microRNAs changes in the placenta transcriptome from pregnant women subjected to therapeutic abortion for fetal malformation and correlate the impact of gestational exposure to BPA on these developmental changes.


METHODS
We performed a comparative analysis of genome wide miRNA expression in placentas from pregnant women exposed to BPA using microarray technology to identify miRNAs which were aberrantly expressed in placentas from malformed fetuses. The expression changes of differential expressed miRNAs in the samples used for microarray were confirmed by qPCR . Beside, we applied various bioinformatics tools to predict the target genes of the identified miR-146a and explore their biological function and downstream pathways.


RESULTS
We found that miR-146a was significant overexpressed and correlated significantly with BPA accumulation in the placenta from pregnant women living in a polluted area and undergoing therapeutic abortion due to fetal malformations. Beside, we applied various bioinformatics tools to predict the target genes of miR-146a and explore their biological function and downstream pathways.


CONCLUSIONS
For the first time, we found, in humans, that miR-146a was significant over-expressed and correlated significantly with BPA accumulation in the placenta. Our results lead to the suggestion that miRNAs could be potential biomarkers to clarify the mechanisms of environmental diseases.
DISTABIF-Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Naples II, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100, Caserta, Italy. bruna.defelice@unina2.it.
Bruna
B
De Felice
DISTABIF-Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Naples II, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100, Caserta, Italy. francescomanfellotto@unina2.it.
Francesco
F
Manfellotto
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy. viafalcone-1@yahoo.it.
Annarita
A
Palumbo
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy. viafalcone-2@yahoo.it.
Jacopo
J
Troisi
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy. viafalcone-3@yahoo.it.
Fulvio
F
Zullo
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy. viafalcone-4@yahoo.it.
Costantino
C
Di Carlo
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy. viafalcone-5@yahoo.it.
Attilio
A
Di Spiezio Sardo
Department of Pathology, S.Giuseppe Moscati Hosptal, Avellino, Italy. viafalcone-6@yahoo.it.
Noè
N
De Stefano
Department of Pathology, S.Giuseppe Moscati Hosptal, Avellino, Italy. viafalcone-7@yahoo.it.
Umberto
U
Ferbo
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Naples, Naples, Italy. marguida@unina.it.
Marco
M
Guida
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy. maguida@unisa.it.
Maurizio
M
Guida
D000328:Adult; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D055106:Genome-Wide Association Study; D006801:Humans; D018811:Maternal Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D010636:Phenols / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds
D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D035683:MicroRNAs; D010636:Phenols; C542542:MIRN146 microRNA, human; C006780:bisphenol A; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds