MicroRNAs and Exosomal microRNAs May Be Possible Targets to Investigate in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is defined as glucose intolerance that occurs during the second or third trimester of pregnancy. As the incidence of GDM rises, so does the risk of maternal and fetal complications with short- and long-term consequences. As a result, early diagnosis and treatment of this condition are important to avoiding adverse pregnancy outcomes. Exosomes are tiny vesicles secreted by living cells which contain a variety of bioactive substances. They are released by cells to facilitate cell-to-cell communication and regulate a variety of biological processes such as cellular immune response, inflammatory response, and apoptosis, among others. Many studies have recently confirmed that changes in the expression and secretion of exosomal miRNAs can be used as novel markers for the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of GDM. In this review, we summarized the various roles of exosomal miRNAs and circulating miRNAs in GDM. We found that the changes in the expression of certain miRNAs could be used to diagnosing GDM. Exosomal miRNAs target metabolic pathways, resulting in insulin resistance. We also highlighted the potential for miRNAs and exosomal miRNAs to be used as biomarkers for diagnosis or therapeutic agents.

Keywords:

• GDM
• exosomal miRNA
• biomarker
• insulin resistance
• pregnancy

Statement of Ethics

This article does not contain any studies with human or animals performed by any of the authors.

Consent for Publication

Agreed to publish.

Acknowledgments

I wish to thank for the timely technical assistance and intellectual support given by Yujing He.

Author Contributions

Xiyao Yang collected the related papers and wrote the manuscript. Na Wu provided direction and guidance throughout the preparation of this manuscript, and revise it critically for important intellectual content, and approved the final manuscript. All authors contributed to data analysis, drafting or revising the article, have agreed on the journal to which the article will be submitted, gave final approval of the version to be published, and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors declare no conflicts of interest in this work.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.81700706), the 345 Talent Project of Shengjing hospital, the Clinical research project of Liaoning Diabetes Medical Nutrition Prevention Society (No. LNSTNBYXYYFZXH-RS01B), the Natural Science Foundation of Liaoning Province (No. 2021-MS-182), the Science Foundation of Liaoning Education Department (No. LK201603), and the Virtual simulation experiment teaching project of China Medical University (No.2020-47).