MiRNAs expression in human placental tissue with Hemoglobin Bart's Hydrops Fetalis Syndrome

Hemoglobin Bart's hydrops fetalis syndrome (BHFS) is the most severe form of a-thalassemia. Histological alternations can be observed in placenta, but placental transcriptome profile and circular RNAs have not been study in this disease. The aim of this study was to define the placental transcriptional changes and find relevant circular RNAs in BHFS. We performed high-throughput RNA sequencing to detect placental samples from fetuses affected by BHFS (n=5) and normal fetuses (NF, n=5). Our results showed 152 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), 112 circRNAs, and 45 microRNAs that were differentially expressed. DEGs were found to be involved in Gene Ontology terms related to gas transport, cell adhesion, oxidative stress, organ development, hemopoiesis, etc. Our study characterized the placental transcriptome of BHFS. Overall design: We performed high-throughput RNA sequencing to detect placental samples from fetuses affected by BHFS (n=5) and normal fetuses (NF, n=5).