miR-1260b mediates rehabilitation of postpartum pelvic floor dysfunction by targeting PIN1.

BACKGROUND

Postpartum pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) impairs women's quality of life with unmet needs in early diagnosis and treatment. This study explored the expression profile, diagnostic value, and molecular mechanism of miR-1260b in postpartum PFD.

METHODS

This study included 60 PFD cases and 60 healthy controls. The expression of miR-1260b in tissues was detected, and the diagnostic efficacy and risk factors were analyzed through receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and logistic regression. Pearson analysis was used to investigate the correlation between miR-1260b expression and bladder neck mobility (BNM) and levator ani hiatus area (ASHA). In vitro, human uterosacral ligament fibroblasts (hUSLFs) were treated with advanced glycation end products (AGEs). Functional assays (CCK-8, qRT-PCR, Western blot, dual-luciferase reporter assay) were performed after transfection with miR-1260b mimics/inhibitors or small interfering RNA to evaluate cell proliferation, oxidative stress, fibrosis, and signaling pathways, and validate target genes.

RESULTS

miR-1260b was significantly upregulated in PFD tissues, showing positive correlations with BNM and ASHA (r = 0.774 and 0.741). It exhibited favorable diagnostic efficacy (AUC = 0.846) and served as an independent risk factor (OR = 9.671). AGE upregulated miR-1260b, suppressed hUSLF proliferation, enhanced oxidative stress and fibrosis, and altered extracellular matrix and FAK/RhoA pathway-related protein levels; these impairments were reversed by miR-1260b inhibition. PIN1 was identified as a direct target of miR-1260b, and PIN1 knockdown abrogated the protective effects of miR-1260b inhibitors.

CONCLUSION

This study is the first to identify miR-1260b as a potential diagnostic biomarker for postpartum PFD, which mediates AGE-induced hUSLF dysfunction by targeting PIN1, providing novel targets for early diagnosis and targeted intervention.