title: Placental microRNA Expression Is Not Altered by Maternal Obesity and Fetal Overgrowth.
abstract: ObjectiveThe epigenetic mechanisms underlying fetal metabolic programming are poorly understood. We studied whether obesity is associated with alterations in placental miRNA expression.Study DesignA cross-sectional study was performed, including (1) normal-weight women (BMI 20-24.9 kg/m2) and normal-birth-weight (BW) infants (2,700-3,500 g) (n= 20), (2) normal-weight and macrosomic infants (BW ≥ 4,000 g) (n= 10), (3) obese (BMI ≥ 35 kg/m2) and normal BW infants (n= 16), and (4) obese and macrosomic infants (n= 10). All had term deliveries (37-41 weeks) and normal glucose tolerance (1 hour GCT < 7.2 mmol/L [130 mg/dL]). The expression of 5,639 placental miRNAs was assessed using miRNA microarray. Differential miRNA expression was determined using two-way ANOVA and pairwise contrasts, with the Benjamini-Hochberg (BH) correction. MiRNAs with Z-scores ≥ 2 and false discovery rate (FDR) < 20% were considered significant.ResultsPrincipal components analysis demonstrated similar global miRNA expression profiles among groups. Of 5,639 miRNAs, only 5 were significantly different between obese and controls, which were not validated by quantitative polymerase reaction.ConclusionThere was no difference in placental miRNA expression associated with obesity or overgrowth. Aberrant placental miRNA expression is an unlikely mechanism underlying fetal metabolic programming related to maternal obesity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Research on Reproduction and Women's Health, Maternal and Child Health Research Program, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Neda
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ghaffari
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Research on Reproduction and Women's Health, Maternal and Child Health Research Program, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Parry
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Research on Reproduction and Women's Health, Maternal and Child Health Research Program, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Michal A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Elovitz
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Research on Reproduction and Women's Health, Maternal and Child Health Research Program, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Celeste P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Durnwald
keywords: fetal metabolic programming; macrosomia; microRNA; obesity