BioProject

Dysfunctional umbilical cord blood (CB) is an important factor for the development of IUGR in utero. However, the genetic mechanism underlying the miRNAs in CB exosomes influence the development of IUGR is not well characterized. Herein, we present a comprehensive investigation of miRNA transcriptome of umbilical cord vein and artery between IUGR and normal littermate. We total identified 636 unique miRNAs. There were 116 significant differentially expressed (DE) miRNAs between umbilical vein of normal (NV) and IUGR (IV) and 226 DE miRNAs between umbilical artery of normal (NA) and IUGR (IA) (P < 0.001). Cluster analysis revealed that umbilical artery had the most striking divergence, implied it plays more prominent role in the development of IUGR. The miRNAs enriched in NA mainly participate in blood vessel development, regulation of transcription and growth. The miRNAs highly expressed in IA mainly enriched in apoptosis, cell death, embryonic development and immune system development Besides, miRNAs related to oxygen transfer (miR-210, miR-424), angiogenesis (miR-130a, miR-150, miR-34a) and immune system development (miR-181a, miR-155) were lower expressed in IUGR. Our findings demonstrate that CB derived miRNAs participate in fetal epigenetic regulation during pregnancy, which may supply a new explanation for abnormal embryologic development and some congenital diseases. Overall design: Investigation of miRNA transcriptome of umbilical cord vein and artery between IUGR and normal littermate