Patients with Unexplained Recurrent Spontaneous Abortion Show Decreased Levels of Microrna-146a-5p in the Deciduae.

BACKGROUND

Immune intolerance of the fetal-placental unit may be a contributing cause of unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion (URSA).

OBJECTIVES

This study is to investigate the relevance of the miR-146a-5p/IFN-γ pathway to URSA.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

Quantitative real-time RT-PCR and western blot were performed to compare the levels of miR-146a-5p, IFN-γ, IRAK1, and TRAF6 in the deciduae of URSA (n=29) and healthy women (n=35) after an elective abortion.

RESULTS

The levels of miR-146a-5p were lower in the deciduae of patients with URSA compared with control subjects (P=0.027). The mRNA and protein expressions of IFN-γ, IRAK1, and TRAF6 were higher in the deciduae in patients with URSA compared with control subjects (P<0.05). There were negative correlations between the miR-146a-5p level and the levels of IRAK1 and TRAF6 mRNAs. The protein levels of IFN-γ, IRAK1, and TRAF6 positively correlated with each other (P<0.01).

CONCLUSION

Low miR-146a-5p may promote the activity of IFN-γ, subsequently leading to immune intolerance of the fetal-placental unit, which may contribute to URSA.