Circulating MicroRNA: Myocardium-Derived Prenatal Biomarker of Ventricular Septal Defects

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate transcription factors and relate to ventricular septal defect (VSD) occurrence, progression and outcome. Recently, circulating miRNAs from maternal blood and amniotic fluid have been used as biomarkers for congenital heart defect (CHD) diagnosis. However, whether circulating miRNAs are associated with foetal heart tissue remains unknown. Dimethadione (DMO) induced a VSD rat model and the miRNA expression profiles of the myocardium, amniotic fluid and maternal serum were analysed. MiRNAs were differentially expressed in the myocardium, amniotic fluid or maternal serum of VSD foetal rats and might be involved in cardiomyocyte differentiation and apoptosis.微小核糖核酸（miRNAs）可调控转录因子，且与室间隔缺损（VSD）的发生、进展及预后密切相关。近年来，源自母体血液与羊水的循环miRNAs已被用作先天性心脏病（CHD）诊断的生物标志物。然而，循环miRNAs是否与胎儿心脏组织存在关联仍未明确。本研究通过二甲双酮（DMO）构建VSD大鼠模型，并对其心肌组织、羊水及母体血清中的miRNA表达谱进行了分析。结果显示，VSD胎鼠的心肌组织、羊水或母体血清中存在差异表达的miRNAs，此类miRNAs可能参与心肌细胞分化与细胞凋亡过程。