ABSTRACT
Background
Inflammation is strongly associated with premature birth and neonatal morbidities. Increases in infant haptoglobin, haptoglobin-related protein (Hp&HpRP), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels are indicators of intra-amniotic inflammation (IAI) and have been linked to poor neonatal outcomes. Inflammation causes epigenetic changes, specifically suppression of miR-29 expression. The current study sought to determine whether miR-29b levels in cord blood or neonatal venous blood are associated with IAI, identified by elevated IL-6 and Hp, and subsequent clinical morbidities in the infant.
Methods
We tested 92 cord blood samples from premature newborns and 18 venous blood samples at 36 weeks corrected gestational age. MiR-29b, Hp&HpRP, and IL-6 were measured by polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively.
Results
Decreased levels of miR-29b were observed in infants exposed to IAI with elevated Hp&HpRP and IL-6 levels and in infants delivered by spontaneous preterm birth. Lower miR-29 levels were also observed in women diagnosed with histological chorioamnionitis or funisitis and in infants with cerebral palsy. Higher levels of miR-29 were measured in infants small for gestational age and in venous samples from older infants.
Conclusions
MiR-29 may be an additional biomarker of IAI and a potential therapeutic target for treating poor newborn outcomes resulting from antenatal exposure to IAI.
Impact
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Decreases in miR-29b are associated with intrauterine inflammation.
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Hp&HpRP increases are associated with decreased miR-29b.
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MiR-29b may be an additional biomarker for neonatal outcomes and a potential therapeutic target for intrauterine inflammation.
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Acknowledgements
We acknowledge the Ohio Perinatal Research Network Perinatal Research Repository for providing biospecimens and data for the project. These studies were support by NIH HD0880833.
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L.R.P. interpreted data and wrote the manuscript; S.V. performed biochemical analyses; C.W.B. performed statistical analyses of data; I.A.B. assisted in conceiving the idea, provided cord blood samples, and edited the manuscript; C.S.B. assisted in conceiving the idea, and edited the manuscript; L.K.R. conceived the idea, oversaw all analyses, and edited final draft of the manuscript.
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Pavlek, L.R., Vudatala, S., Bartlett, C.W. et al. MiR-29b is associated with perinatal inflammation in extremely preterm infants. Pediatr Res 89, 889–893 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-020-0943-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-020-0943-1
