Chemerin-induced down-regulation of placenta-derived exo-somal miR-140-3p and miR-574-3p promotes umbilical vein endothelial cells proliferation, migration, and tube formation in gestational diabetes mellitus

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) leads to poor pregnancy outcomes and fetoplacental endothelial dysfunction; however, the underlying mechanisms are still unknown. This study aimed to investigate the effect of placenta-derived exosomal miRNAs on fetoplacental endothelial dysfunction in GDM, and to further explore the role of chemerin to this end. Placenta-derived exosomal miR-140-3p and miR-574-3p expression (next-generation sequencing, quantitative real-time PCR), its interactions with cell function (Cell Counting Kit-8, Transwell, tube formation assay), chemerin interactions (Western blotting), and placental inflammation (immunofluorescence staining, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) were investigated. Placenta-derived exosomal miR-140-3p and miR-574-3p were downregulated in GDM. Additionally, miR-140-3p and miR-574-3p inhibited the proliferation, migration, and tube formation ability of umbilical vein endothelial cells by targeting vascular endothelial growth factor. Interestingly, miR-140-3p and miR-574-3p expression levels were negatively correlated with chemerin, which induced placental inflammation through the recruitment of macrophage cells and release of IL-18 and IL-1β. These findings indicate that chemerin reduces placenta-derived exosomal miR-140-3p and miR-574-3p levels by inducing placental inflammation, thereby promoting the proliferation, migration, and tube formation of umbilical vein endothelial cells in GDM, providing a novel perspective on the underlying pathogenesis and therapeutic targets for GDM and its offspring complications. Comparative miRNAs expression profiling analysis of miRNA-seq data for placenta derived exosomes from GDM and normal pregnant women.