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. Overall design: Dimethadione (DMO) induced a VSD rat model. The NC group was given the same dose of distilled water at the same time. In the DMO group, VSD foetuses without malformation of major vessels were selected as the VSD group, and foetuses with intact ventricular septum were selected as the non-VSD group. Seven samples were selected for miRNA sequencing in each group.