title: Bacterial and cytokine mixtures predict the length of gestation and are associated with miRNA expression in the cervix.
abstract: Bacterial vaginosis may lead to preterm birth through epigenetic programming of the inflammatory response, specifically via miRNA expression.
  
  
  
  We quantified bacterial 16S rRNA, cytokine mRNA and 800 miRNA from cervical swabs obtained from 80 women at 16-19 weeks' gestation. We generated bacterial and cytokine indices using weighted quantile sum regression and examined associations with miRNA and gestational age at delivery.
  
  
  
  Each decile of the bacterial and cytokine indices was associated with shorter gestations (p < 0.005). The bacterial index was associated with miR-494, 371a, 4286, 185, 320e, 888 and 23a (p < 0.05). miR-494 remained significant after false discovery rate correction (q < 0.1). The cytokine index was associated with 27 miRNAs (p < 0.05; q < 0.01).
  
  
  
  Future investigation into the role of bacterial vaginosis- and inflammation-associated miRNA and preterm birth is warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, NY 10029, USA.
authors.forename: Alison P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Sanders
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, NY 10029, USA.
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gennings
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, NY 10029, USA.
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Svensson
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environmental Epigenetics, Exposure Epidemiology & Risk Program, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA.|Department of Clinical Sciences & Community Health University of Milan - Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan 20122, Italy.
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Motta
authors.affiliation: Center for Evaluation Research & Surveys, National Institute of Public Health, Cuernavaca, Morelos 62100, Mexico.
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mercado-Garcia
authors.affiliation: Center for Evaluation Research & Surveys, National Institute of Public Health, Cuernavaca, Morelos 62100, Mexico.
authors.forename: Maritsa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Solano
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environmental Epigenetics, Exposure Epidemiology & Risk Program, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA.|Department of Environmental Health, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Andrea A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Baccarelli
authors.affiliation: Center for Evaluation Research & Surveys, National Institute of Public Health, Cuernavaca, Morelos 62100, Mexico.
authors.forename: Martha M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Tellez-Rojo
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, NY 10029, USA.
authors.forename: Robert O
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA.|Boston Children's Hospital & Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.|Division of Newborn Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Heather H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Burris
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000378:metabolism*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology*; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016585:Vaginosis, Bacterial / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines; D035683:MicroRNAs; D012333:RNA, Messenger
keywords: bacterial vaginosis; cervix; cytokines; miRNA; preterm birth