The Association of Vitamin D with MicroRNA in Preeclampsia Volume 7 - Issue 3

Xingli Deng¹ and Yuan Qian*^2,3

• ¹Department of Neurosurgery, 1st Affiliate Hospital of Kunming Medical University, China
• ²Department of Laboratory Medicine, 1st Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, China
• ³Genetic Diagnosis Center, Women and Children Hospital, China

Received: July 23, 2018;   Published: July 31, 2018

*Corresponding author: Yuan Qian, The Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine of Yunnan Province & Prenatal Diagnosis Lab, Department of Laboratory Medicine, 1st Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University. Genetic Diagnosis Center, Women and Children Hospital, Kunming, Yunnan, China

DOI: 10.26717/BJSTR.2018.07.001508

Abstract PDF

It has been extensively investigated that the association between vitamin D deficiency and adverse outcomes in diseases with pregnancy, including preeclampsia. The dysregulation of microRNA expression in placenta with preeclampsia had also been reported in many studies. However, the association of vitamin D deficiency and dysregulation of microRNA in the placenta had been rarely reported. In our manuscript, we aim to shortly review the existing literature regarding the vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy, the factors associated with vitamin D deficiency, and the association of vitamin D with microRNA in preeclampsia

Vitamin D deficiency during Pregnancy

Vitamin D metabolism during pregnancy has striking differences compared to the non-pregnant state .1,25-dihidroxyivitamin D(1,25(OH)2D), the active form of vitamin D has been converted from 25-OH at the renal site in the non-pregnant state. In the pregnancy, the placenta is thought to be the major site of vitamin D metabolism, providing 1, 25(OH) 2D in vitro [1]. Vitamin D has an important role not only in maintaining an adequate level of minerals in bone mineralization but also acting as a potent immunomodulator in immunoregulating effect [2,3]. Vitamin D receptors are broadly present on nearly all immune cells, like Th1, Th2, Tregs, Th17, monocytes, B-lymphocytes and microphage [4,5]. The 1, 25(OH) 2D could modulate the expression of cytokines by bounding to its receptor. Observational studies supported the significant association between lower vitamin D concentrations and higher risk of preeclampsia. Indeed, studies supported that lower 25-OH vitamin D serum levels and lower 1,25(OH)2 vitamin D levels in patients with preeclampsia compared to healthy pregnant women with the same gestational age [6,7]. However, there are still some observational studies found no difference in vitamin D concentrations in women with preeclampsia compared to normotensive women [8]. Andraž Dovnik think that the contradiction could be contributed by their variable definition of preeclampsia, discrepancies in the analysis of confounding factors and differences in the gestational age at which vitamin D concentration was assessed, or a low number of patients with preeclampsia included in the study [9]. Vitamin D status is influenced by the gestational age, obesity and ethnicity. These factors can also affect the risk of preeclampsia as well. Till now, the mechanism of vitamin D deficiency in patients with preeclampsia has not fully understood.

MicroRNA in the Placenta with Preeclampsia

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short non-coding RNAs. Dysregulation of miRNAs is implicated in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia, including placental specific microRNAs and differentially expressed microRNAs [10,11]. The levels of miRNAs expression are influenced by several physiological factors, like race, different type of preeclampsia. The placenta-specific miRNAs are mainly clustered in C14MC, C19MC and miR-371-373cluster. Altered expression of 7 miRNAs, including miR-210, miR-30a-3p, miR-518b, miR-524, miR-17-3p, miR-151, and miR-193b had been reported in the placental tissues with PE in Chinese [12]. Lykoudi A et al reported that miR-431, miR-518a-5p and miR-124 were over-expressed in early onset PE (EOPE) complicated placentas as compared to controls, whereas miR-544 and miR-3942 were down-regulated in EOPE [13]. However, miRNAs with differential expression in different study showed a minimal overlapping pattern, even contradictory data were also reported. Shortcomings associated with placental sampling, the onset time of PE in the different studies were considered the main factors contributing the phenomena. Abnormal microRNA expression may have a role in the development of preeclampsia as it affects the proliferation, migration, and invasion of the trophoblast cells, spiral artery remodeling, and angiogenesis.

Vitamin D and miRNA in Preeclampsia

vitamin D and miRNAs might play an important role in the pathogenesis of PE. However, the association between the serum level of vitamin D and miRNAs expression involved in PE patients has not been reported. Results from other study have shown that 1,25-didroxyvitamin D status was associated with the expression of miRNAs in patients with coronary artery diseases [14]. In our study, 42 microRNAs with differential expression in PE placenta in lack of vitamin D were found, and the association between vitamin D, miRNAs expression and preeclampsia were analyzed (under review). Further studies are required to investigate whether differential microRNA which might be associated with vitamin D receptor and vitamin D signaling pathway through the function predication and analysis with Target Scan database. These results may provide the data to investigate vitamin D supplementation, which would reduce the risk of severe preeclampsia and improve pregnancy outcomes.

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