Long Non-Coding RNA HOTAIR Expression and Clinical Significance in Patients with Gestational Diabetes

The global incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is increasing year by year, and many studies have proved that long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) is involved in the regulation of GDM. The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression of HOTAIR in GDM patients and its clinical significance.

Ninety-eight healthy pregnant women and 99 pregnant women diagnosed with GDM were enrolled in this study. Blood samples were collected from all participants and used for qRT-PCR analysis to determine the serum HOTAIR levels. The ROC curve was constructed to evaluate the diagnostic value of HOTAIR for GDM. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to estimate the correlation between HOTAIR and clinical indicators of patients. Logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the independent predictors of GDM.

The level of HOTAIR was augmented in GDM group compared with healthy controls. ROC curve revealed that HOTAIR as a diagnostic marker of GDM has high sensitivity and specificity. Pearson correlation coefficient showed that HOTAIR level was positively correlated with body mass index, fasting plasma glucose, 1-hour plasma glucose and 2-hour plasma glucose. Logistic regression analysis shows that HOTAIR is an independent factor of the occurrence of GDM.

The abnormal expression of HOTAIR in pregnant women with GDM made it a potential diagnostic biomarker for GDM.