Pregnancy-driven cardiovascular maternal miR-29 plasticity in obesity
N Schlabritz-Loutsevitch1, K Apostolakis-Kyrus2, R Krutilina3
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at the Permian Basin, Odessa, TX, USA.
Background:
Obesity in pregnancy (MO) is a risk factor for maternal and/or fetal cardiovascular system disorders. This study evaluated maternal CVS expression of microRNA-29 family and its target molecules in MO to test the hypotheses: CVS miR-29 concentrations are increased in pregnancy and decreased in MO.
Methods:
Non-pregnant (n=4), pregnant obese (POb, n=4), and pregnant non-obese (PnOb, n=4) baboons (Papio spp.) were studied. Maternal left ventricle (LV), left atrium (LA), and aortic arch (AA) were collected at the end of gestation. Expression of MiR-29 and elastin (ELN) mRNA were quantified.
Results:
LA miR-29 (a, c) expression was highest in PnOb. In the LV, miR-29b expression trended lower (P=.059) for PnOb animals. ELN mRNA expression correlated positively with miR-29b expression in AA (r=.76, P=.03).
Conclusion:
Maternal obesity diminishes miR-29 adaptation to pregnancy. Pharmacologic, tissue-specific targeting of miRNA-29 may represent a strategy for prevention and treatment of MO complications.
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