BACKGROUND: A growing body of research suggests that the intrauterine environment influences fetal neurodevelopment by altering the functional placental epigenome. A number of microRNAs (miRNAs) are expressed in the placenta, may be sensitive to dysregulation by environmental exposures, and are associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Our study aimed to identify the relationships between placental miRNA expression and newborn neurobehavior. METHODS: We examined the association between the expression of miR-16, miR-21, miR-93, miR-135b, miR-146a, and miR-182 in total RNA from the placentas of 86 term infants as measured by quantitative real-time PCR and newborn neurobehavioral outcomes as assessed using the NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scales (NNNS). RESULTS: Bivariate analysis revealed that placental miR-16 expression is negatively associated with attention score (P = 0.006), whereas expressions of both miR-146a and miR-182 are positively associated with quality of movement score (P = 0.016 and P = 0.016, respectively). Controlling for potential confounders, high miR-16 expression is significantly associated with reduced attention score (P = 0.04), and high miR-146a and miR-182 expressions are significantly associated with increased quality of movement score (P = 0.04 and P = 0.01, respectively). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that placental miRNA expression is associated with early neurobehavioral outcomes and miRNAs in the placenta may contribute to the developmental origins of infant neurobehavior.
BACKGROUND: A growing body of research suggests that the intrauterine environment influences fetal neurodevelopment by altering the functional placental epigenome. A number of microRNAs (miRNAs) are expressed in the placenta, may be sensitive to dysregulation by environmental exposures, and are associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Our study aimed to identify the relationships between placental miRNA expression and newborn neurobehavior. METHODS: We examined the association between the expression of miR-16, miR-21, miR-93, miR-135b, miR-146a, and miR-182 in total RNA from the placentas of 86 term infants as measured by quantitative real-time PCR and newborn neurobehavioral outcomes as assessed using the NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scales (NNNS). RESULTS: Bivariate analysis revealed that placental miR-16 expression is negatively associated with attention score (P = 0.006), whereas expressions of both miR-146a and miR-182 are positively associated with quality of movement score (P = 0.016 and P = 0.016, respectively). Controlling for potential confounders, high miR-16 expression is significantly associated with reduced attention score (P = 0.04), and high miR-146a and miR-182 expressions are significantly associated with increased quality of movement score (P = 0.04 and P = 0.01, respectively). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that placental miRNA expression is associated with early neurobehavioral outcomes and miRNAs in the placenta may contribute to the developmental origins of infant neurobehavior.
Authors: Matthew A Maccani; Michele Avissar-Whiting; Carolyn E Banister; Bethany McGonnigal; James F Padbury; Carmen J Marsit Journal: Epigenetics Date: 2010-10-01 Impact factor: 4.528
Authors: Todor V Gerdjikov; Andrew C Giles; Shelley N Swain; Richard J Beninger Journal: Psychopharmacology (Berl) Date: 2006-10-18 Impact factor: 4.530
Authors: Jannet Kocerha; Mohammad Ali Faghihi; Miguel A Lopez-Toledano; Jia Huang; Amy J Ramsey; Marc G Caron; Nicole Sales; David Willoughby; Joacim Elmen; Henrik F Hansen; Henrik Orum; Sakari Kauppinen; Paul J Kenny; Claes Wahlestedt Journal: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Date: 2009-02-05 Impact factor: 11.205
Authors: Christine Ladd-Acosta; Jason I Feinberg; Shannon C Brown; Frederick W Lurmann; Lisa A Croen; Irva Hertz-Picciotto; Craig J Newschaffer; Andrew P Feinberg; M Daniele Fallin; Heather E Volk Journal: Environ Int Date: 2019-02-28 Impact factor: 9.621
Authors: Jesse M Tehrani; Elizabeth Kennedy; Pei Wen Tung; Amber Burt; Karen Hermetz; Tracy Punshon; Brian P Jackson; Ke Hao; Jia Chen; Margaret R Karagas; Devin C Koestler; Barry Lester; Carmen J Marsit Journal: Pediatr Res Date: 2022-07-29 Impact factor: 3.953