Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 27, 2025
Author Spotlight: Modeling an Aspect of Preeclampsia in Female Mice Using Hypoxic Human Placenta-Derived Small Extracellular Vesicles
Published on: January 26, 2024
Placenta-specific plasma miR518b is a potential biomarker for preeclampsia
Munjas Jelena1, Miron Sopić1, Ivana Joksić2
1Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Belgrade, Street Vojvode Stepe 450, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.
Introduction:
MicroRNAs have a significant role in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. Circulating microRNAs could represent a potential biomarker for preeclampsia. The aim of this study was to evaluate plasma miR210-3p and miR518b in preeclampsia and healthy pregnancy for the first time by digital droplet PCR (ddPCR).
Methods:
Thirty-six pregnant women (seventeen healthy pregnancies, nineteen preeclampsia patients) were involved from the Clinic for Gynaecology and Obstetrics "Narodni front" in Belgrade, Serbia. Plasma miR210-3p, miR518b and cel-miR-39 as a spike-in control were measured by ddPCR.
Results:
MiR518b was significantly elevated in preeclampsia compared to a healthy pregnancy (P = 0.034; 0.302(0.217-0.421) vs. 0.171(0.110-0.266)). MiR210-3p showed no significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.951). The adjustment of miR518b was made for a gestational age and smoking status and the difference between the preeclampsia and healthy pregnancy group was more significant (P = 0.026; 0.300(0.216-0.419) vs. 0.172(0.121-0.245)). Plasma miR-518b was significantly higher in the group of preeclampsia patients with proteinuria above the 75th percentile for the group (P = 0.033), in women who smoked (P = 0.039), and was positively related to uric acid in preeclampsia (P = 0.018, r = 0.536). Plasma miR518b was able to significantly discriminate between preeclampsia and healthy pregnancy, yielding AUC of 0.712 (95%CI:0.539-0.891), P = 0.028.
Conclusions:
In this study plasma microRNA were measured for the first time in preeclampsia and healthy pregnancies with ddPCR. Placenta-specific miR-518b could serve as a potential biomarker for discriminating preeclampsia and healthy pregnancy, which should be confirmed on a larger study population. This study has failed to confirm the same potential for miR210-3p.
Insights
Placenta-specific microRNA-518b (miR-518b) is elevated in preeclampsia, showing potential as a biomarker. MicroRNA-210-3p (miR210-3p) did not show significant differences between preeclampsia and healthy pregnancies.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive biology
- Molecular diagnostics
- Biomarker discovery
Background:
- MicroRNAs play a key role in preeclampsia pathogenesis.
- Circulating microRNAs are potential biomarkers for preeclampsia.
- This study investigates plasma miR-518b and miR-210-3p in preeclampsia using digital droplet PCR (ddPCR).
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate plasma miR-210-3p and miR-518b levels in preeclampsia patients and healthy pregnancies.
- To assess the potential of these microRNAs as biomarkers for preeclampsia detection.
Main Methods:
- Digital droplet PCR (ddPCR) was used to measure plasma miR-210-3p and miR-518b.
- The study included 19 preeclampsia patients and 17 healthy pregnant women.
- Cel-miR-39 was used as a spike-in control.
Main Results:
- Plasma miR-518b was significantly elevated in preeclampsia patients compared to healthy controls (P=0.034).
- Adjusted analysis for gestational age and smoking further increased significance (P=0.026).
- Plasma miR-518b levels correlated with proteinuria, smoking, and uric acid in preeclampsia, and showed diagnostic potential (AUC=0.712, P=0.028).
- No significant difference in miR-210-3p levels was observed between groups (P=0.951).
Conclusions:
- Placenta-specific miR-518b shows potential as a biomarker for discriminating preeclampsia from healthy pregnancy.
- Further validation in larger populations is recommended.
- miR-210-3p did not demonstrate similar potential as a biomarker in this study.
