Hiraku Yusuke
Department of Environmental and Molecular Medicine, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine.
Nihon Eiseigaku Zasshi. 2018;73(2):105-109. doi: 10.1265/jjh.73.105.
In Japan, the prevalence of low birth weight (< 2,500 g) has been increasing, probably owing to leanness, exposure to toxic chemicals and smoking. Epidemiological studies revealed that low birth weight poses risks of hypertension, coronary heart diseases and diabetes. Although the precise mechanism has not been understood, there is an urgent need for appropriate public health interventions. MicroRNA (miRNA) is a small RNA consisting of approximately 22 nucleotides and distributed in a wide variety of organs and body fluids. miRNAs are involved in the pathogenesis of various human diseases and expected to be their potential biomarkers. The interest on the study on miRNA in the research field of developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD) has been growing, and the number of related papers has been increasing. There are several molecular epidemiological studies on the relationship between maternal miRNA and fetal development. The effects of smoking and dietary factors on miRNA expression and fetal development have been investigated in epidemiological and experimental studies. However, the role of maternal miRNA in fetal development has not been well understood so far. In this review, the current status of studies on miRNA expression in DOHaD research is described and future perspectives are discussed.
在日本，低出生体重（<2500克）的患病率一直在上升，这可能归因于消瘦、接触有毒化学物质和吸烟。流行病学研究表明，低出生体重会带来患高血压、冠心病和糖尿病的风险。尽管确切机制尚不清楚，但迫切需要采取适当的公共卫生干预措施。微小RNA（miRNA）是一种由大约22个核苷酸组成的小RNA，分布于多种器官和体液中。miRNA参与各种人类疾病的发病机制，有望成为潜在的生物标志物。在健康与疾病的发育起源（DOHaD）研究领域，对miRNA的研究兴趣不断增加，相关论文数量也在增多。有几项关于母体miRNA与胎儿发育关系的分子流行病学研究。在流行病学和实验研究中，已经调查了吸烟和饮食因素对miRNA表达及胎儿发育的影响。然而，到目前为止，母体miRNA在胎儿发育中的作用尚未得到充分了解。在这篇综述中，描述了DOHaD研究中miRNA表达的研究现状，并讨论了未来的研究方向。
