EV-miRNA associated with environmental air pollution exposures in the MADRES cohort.

Air pollution is a hazardous contaminant, exposure to which has substantial consequences for health during critical periods, such as pregnancy. MicroRNA (miRNA) is an epigenetic mechanism that modulates transcriptome responses to the environment and has been found to change in reaction to air pollution exposure. The data are limited regarding extracellular-vesicle (EV) miRNA variation associated with air pollution exposure during pregnancy and in susceptible populations who may be disproportionately exposed.

Depression, perceived stress, and distress during pregnancy and EV-associated miRNA profiles in MADRES.

Background: MicroRNA (miRNA) circulating in plasma has been proposed as biomarkers for a variety of diseases and stress measures, including depression, stress, and trauma. However, few studies have examined the relationship between stress and miRNA during pregnancy.

Methods: In this study, we examined associations between measures of stress and depression during pregnancy with miRNA in early and late pregnancy from the MADRES cohort of primarily low-income Hispanic women based in Los Angeles, California.

Extracellular vesicle-enriched miRNA profiles across pregnancy in the MADRES cohort.

MicroRNA (miRNA) circulating in plasma have been proposed as biomarkers for a variety of conditions and diseases, including complications during pregnancy. During pregnancy, about 15-25% of maternal plasma exosomes, a small size-class of EVs, are hypothesized to originate in the placenta, and may play a role in communication between the fetus and mother. However, few studies have addressed changes in miRNA over the course of pregnancy with repeated measures, nor focused on diverse populations.