CONTEXT
An increase in maternal insulin resistance (IR) during pregnancy is essential for normal fetal growth. The mechanisms underlying this metabolic adaptation to pregnancy are poorly understood. Placenta factors are believed to instigate and maintain these metabolic changes, as IR decreases shortly after delivery. Methylation of placental gene loci that are common targets for miRNAs, are associated with maternal IR.
OBJECTIVE
We hypothesized that placental miRNAs targeting methylated loci are associated with maternal IR during late pregnancy.
METHODS
We collected placentas from 132 elective cesarean sections and fasting blood sample at delivery to estimate maternal HOMA-IR. Placental miRNA expression was measured via whole genome small RNA-sequencing in a subset of 40 placentas selected by maternal pre-gravid BMI and neonatal adiposity. Five miRNAs that correlated with maternal HOMA-IR and were previously identified as targeting methylated genes were selected for validation in all 132 placenta samples via RT-qPCR. Multiple regression was used to adjust for relevant clinical variables.
RESULTS
Median maternal age was 27.5 years, with a median pre-pregnancy BMI of 24.7 kg/m 2, and median HOMA-IR of 2.9. Among the five selected miRNA, maternal HOMA-IR correlated with the placental expression of miRNA-371b-3p (r=0.25; p=0.008) and miRNA-3940-3p (r=0.32; p=0.0004) across the 132 individuals. After adjustment for confounding variables, placental miRNA-3940-3p expression remained significantly associated with HOMA-IR (β=0.16; p=0.03).
CONCLUSION
Placental miRNA-3940-3p was associated with maternal IR at delivery. This placental miRNA may have an autocrine or paracrine effect - regulating placental genes which play a role in modulating maternal IR.