miRNA and target gene expression in menstrual endometria and early pregnancy decidua.

Abstract Objective The role of miRNAs in modulating gene expression in decidualization remains to be determined. We performed a comparative study to identify miRNAs and their potential mRNA targets with different expression levels between endometrium and decidua. Methods Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to measure the expression of the miR-146b-5p, miR-181b-5p, miR-424, miR-532, miR-199a-3p, miR-423, miR-22-3p, let-7i-5p, and miR-1 and the predicted target genes IGF2R , LEPR , SGK1 , MMP2 , MMP10 , LIF , IL6 , and STAT3 in menstrual endometria and early pregnancy decidua. Results miR-146b-5p, miR-181b-5p, miR-424, miR-532, and miR-199a-3p were significantly downregulated in early pregnancy decidua, while miR-423, miR-22-3p, let-7i-5p, and miR-1 were significantly upregulated. In addition, the decidua had significantly lower levels of expression of LIF , IL6 , MMP2 , MMP10 , and IGF2R and higher levels of expression of SGK1 , LEPR , PROK1 , and STAT3 than the menstrual endometria group. Conclusion Our results provide new insights into the expression of miRNAs that regulate genes involved in decidualization and the maintenance of early pregnancy.