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BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to identify complete hydatidiform mole (CHM)-pregnancy-associated microRNAs (miRNAs) in plasma.METHODS: First, by comparative analysis of miRNA expression profiles generated by next generation sequencing, we selected candidate CHM-pregnancy-associated miRNAs in plasma, which showed a higher expression in CHM tissues than in normal villous tissues, but no expression in blood cells. Then, expression levels of these miRNAs in CHM tissues and normal villous tissues were investigated to identify CHM-associated miRNAs with increased expression in CHM tissues compared with normal villous tissues. When the plasma concentration of cell-free CHM-associated miRNAs was significantly higher in CHM pregnant than in uncomplicated pregnant women, these miRNAs were identified as CHM associated. Finally, to identify CHM-pregnancy-associated miRNAs in plasma, circulating levels of CHM-associated miRNAs in plasma samples from CHM pregnant women were measured before and after evacuation.RESULTS: hsa-miR-520b, hsa-miR-520f and hsa-miR-520c-3p were selected as candidate CHM-pregnancy-associated miRNAs in plasma, and all of them were confirmed as CHM-associated miRNAs in tissue samples. All CHM-associated miRNAs were identified as CHM-associated in plasma. The circulating levels of all CHM-associated miRNAs in plasma were decreased significantly after evacuation (Wilcoxon signed rank test, P=0.001), suggesting that all of these miRNAs were pregnancy-associated molecules. CONCLUSIONS: We identified hsa-miR-520b, hsa-miR-520f and hsa-miR-520c-3p as CHM-pregnancy-associated miRNAs in plasma. Circulating levels of these miRNAs could be potential molecular markers for CHM pregnancy. |