Review Article

The Role of miRNAs as Biomarkers for Pregnancy Outcomes: A Comprehensive Review

Table 5

Studies reporting an association between alteration of miRNA expression and environmental exposure.

Authors and yearExposureStudy designEnrolled populationSamplesTechniques↑ miRNAs↓ miRNAs

Li et al., 2015 [56]Organic and inorganic environmental pollutantsProspective110 clinical normal pregnant womenPlacental tissueNanoStringmiR-651 (Pb exposure)
miR-1537 (Cd exposure)
miR-188-5p (PBDE high brominated congener 209 exposure)
miR-1537 (PCB congener 52 and 10 and total PCB exposure)
miR-151p, miR-10a, miR-193b, miR-1975, miR-423-5p, miR-520d-3p, miR-96, miR-252a, miR-518d-5p, miR-520a-5p, miR-190, let-7a, let-7b, let-7c, let-7d, let-7g, and let-7i (Hg exposure)
let-7f, miR-146a, miR-10a, and miR-431 (Pb exposure)
let-7c (PBDE low brominated congener 99 exposure)
Tsamou et al., 2016 [57]PM2.5, NO₂Prospective210 mother-newborn pairsPlacental tissueqRT-PCR1st trimester
miR-20a, miR-21 (PM2.5 exposure)
miR-21 (NO₂ exposure)
1st trimester
2nd trimester
2nd trimester
miR-16, miR-21, miR-146a, and miR-222 (PM2.5 exposure)
miR-20a, miR-21, and miR-146a (NO₂ exposure)
3rd trimester
3rd trimester
miR-146a, (PM2.5 exposure)
LaRocca et al., 2016 [58]Endocrine Disrupting ChemicalsProspective179 womenMaternal urine + placental tissuePCR Array + qRT-PCRmir-15a-5p (Σ phenols, Σ parabens male placentas)
mir-185 (Σ DEHPm, Σ LMW)
mir-15a-5p (Σ phenols, Σ parabens female placentas and nonparabens, overall)
miR-142-3p (Σ phenols, Σ parabens, Σ nonparabens overall)
mir-185 (Σ phthalates, Σ HMW, overall)

qRT-PCR: quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction; indicates the sum of all the chemicals.