Exosomal miRNA Profile in Small-for-Gestational-Age Children: A Potential Biomarker for Catch-Up Growth

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Genetics
• Pediatrics

Background:

• Postnatal growth failure in small-for-gestational-age (SGA) children and the mechanisms of catch-up growth (CU) remain poorly understood.
• Exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs) are emerging as critical regulators of biological processes and potential biomarkers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the exosomal miRNA signature associated with catch-up growth in SGA children.
• To identify potential exosomal miRNA biomarkers for growth failure in SGA infants.

Main Methods:

• Serum exosomal miRNA was analyzed using next-generation sequencing (NGS) in 16 SGA children (5 with CU, 6 without CU) and 10 appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) children.
• Exosomal miRNA expression profiles were compared across SGA-CU, SGA-nCU, and AGA groups.

Main Results:

• Exosomal miRNA profiles clustered into three distinct groups, with SGA-nCU differing significantly from SGA-CU and AGA groups.
• 22 miRNAs were differentially expressed between SGA-nCU and AGA, 19 between SGA-nCU and SGA-CU, and 6 between SGA-CU and AGA.
• Specific miRNAs (e.g., miR-874-3p, miR-6126) showed potential as SGA biomarkers, while others (e.g., miR-30c-5p, miR-23a-5p) were linked to growth failure in SGA-nCU children.

Conclusions:

• SGA children without catch-up growth possess a distinct exosomal miRNA expression profile compared to AGA and SGA children with catch-up growth.
• Exosomal miRNAs represent promising novel biomarkers for assessing catch-up growth potential and identifying growth failure in SGA children.