Urinary miRNA Expression in Pre-Eclampsia During Early and Mid-Pregnancy

Abstract

Background: Pre-eclampsia (PE) is a serious condition affecting 2–8% of pregnancies worldwide, leading to high maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), small non-coding RNA molecules, have emerged as potential biomarkers for various pregnancy-related pathologies, including PE. MiRNAs in plasma and serum have been extensively studied, but urinary miRNAs remain underexplored, especially during early pregnancy. This study aimed to investigate the urinary miRNA expression profiles in women with pre-eclampsia during the first and second trimesters. Materials and Methods: A prospective study was conducted using 48 urine samples from 24 pregnant women (n = 12 pre-eclampsia and n = 12 controls). Urine samples were collected in the first (9–13 weeks) and second (22–24 weeks) trimesters. MiRNA isolation, library preparation, and high-throughput sequencing were performed, followed by differential expression and enrichment analyses. Results: In the first trimester, five miRNAs were dysregulated in PE in comparison with the control group (hsa-miR-184, hsa-miR-203a-3p, hsa-miR-205-5p, hsa-miR-223-3p—downregulated; hsa-miR-1-3p—upregulated). In the second trimester, hsa-miR-205-5p and hsa-miR-223-3p were downregulated, and hsa-miR-9-5p, hsa-miR-1-3p, and hsa-miR-206 were upregulated. Conclusions: Our study identified differentially expressed miRNAs in the urine of pre-eclamptic patients during early pregnancy. These findings suggest that specific urinary miRNAs could serve as non-invasive biomarkers for the early detection and risk assessment of pre-eclampsia. The changes in the level of differential expression of miRNAs during gestation highlight their role in the progression of PE. Further research and validation with a larger cohort are needed to explore their clinical potential for improving maternal and fetal outcomes through early intervention.