Decreased Expression of miR-185 in Serum and Placenta of Patients with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus.

Abstract

The current study aims to investigate the expression of miR-185 in serum and placenta of patients with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and its relationship with insulin resistance. The levels of fasting blood glucose (FPG) and fasting insulin (FINS) were measured and the insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) was calculated. The levels of serum and placental miR-185 were detected by real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR). The relationship between serum and placental miR-185 levels and HOMA-IR was analyzed using Pearson's correlation assay. The diagnostic value of miR-185 was assessed using receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC). Compared with the control group, the serum and placental level of miR-185 was lowest in the severe GDM group and lower in the mild GDM group. Furthermore, the serum levels of FPG, FINS, and HOMA-IR gradually increased in the mild GDM group and the severe GDM group compared to those in the control group. Further study showed that serum and placental miR-185 levels were negatively correlated with HOMA-IR in 156 patients with GDM. ROC analysis showed that the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.927 with the sensitivity and specificity of 0.865 and 0.838, respectively, indicating serum miR-185 could differentiate patients with GDM from controls. The down-regulation of miR-185 expression in serum and placenta of pregnant women with GDM is negatively correlated with HOMA-IR, suggesting that the decrease of miR-185 may play an important role in the occurrence and development of GDM.