Jeliyah Clark, Lauren A Eaves, Adriana R Gaona, Hudson P Santos Jr, Lisa Smeester, Jacqueline T Bangma, Julia E Rager, T Michael O’Shea, Rebecca C Fry
Sci Rep. 2021 Aug 3;11(1):15743. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-95051-1. PMID: 34344912; PMCID: PMC8333418.
Genome-wide mRNA and miRNA expression levels were assessed in the placentas of infants born extremely preterm. Differences in expression were evaluated according to pre-pregnancy BMI status (1) overall and (2) in male and female placentas separately. Overall, 719 mRNAs were differentially expressed in relation to underweight status. Unexpectedly, no genes were differentially expressed in relation to overweight or obese status. In male placentas, 572 mRNAs were associated with underweight status, with 503 (70%) overlapping genes identified overall. Notably, 43/572 (8%) of the mRNAs associated with underweight status in male placentas were also gene targets of two miRNAs (miR-4057 and miR-128-1-5p) associated with underweight status in male placentas. Pathways regulating placental nutrient metabolism and angiogenesis were among those enriched in mRNAs associated with underweight status in males.