Placental microRNAs: Responders to environmental chemicals and mediators of pathophysiology of the human placenta. (2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Addo, Kezia A.; Palakodety, Niharika; Hartwell, Hadley J.; Tingare, Aishani; Fry, Rebecca C.
• Is Part Of: Toxicology reports. Volume 7(2020)
• Page Start: 1046
• Page End: 1056
• Publication Date: 2020
• Subjects: microRNA -- Placenta -- Epigenetic -- Prenatal -- Maternal; Toxicology -- Periodicals; Clinical toxicology -- Periodicals; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; Hazardous Substances; Poisoning; Toxicology; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Periodicals; 571.9505
• DOI: 10.1016/j.toxrep.2020.08.002
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2214-7500

Abstract

Highlights: miRNAs are important epigenetic regulators of placental gene and protein expression. miRNAs play a role in placenta developmental processes such as trophoblast invasion. Placental miRNAs are susceptible to exposure to environmental chemicals. miRNAs are involved in the pathogenesis of pregnancy-related diseases. Abstract: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are epigenetic modifiers that play an important role in the regulation of the expression of genes across the genome. miRNAs are expressed in the placenta as well as other organs, and are involved in several biological processes including the regulation of trophoblast differentiation, migration, invasion, proliferation, apoptosis, angiogenesis and cellular metabolism. Related to their role in disease process, miRNAs have been shown to be differentially expressed between normal placentas and placentas obtained from women with pregnancy/health complications such as preeclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus, and obesity. This dysregulation indicates that miRNAs in the placenta likely play important roles in the pathogenesis of diseases during pregnancy. Furthermore, miRNAs in the placenta are susceptible to altered expression in relation to exposure to environmental toxicants. With relevance to the placenta, the dysregulation of miRNAs in both placenta and blood has been associated with maternal exposures to several toxicants. In this review, we provide a summary of miRNAs that have been assessed in the context of human pregnancy-related diseases and in relation to exposure to environmental toxicants in the placenta. Where data are available, miRNAs are discussed in their context as biomarkers of exposure and/or disease, with comparisons made across-tissue types, and conservation across studies detailed.