Mechanism of MEK1-MAPK Pathway-based MiR520a-5p in Fetal Growth Restriction

Abstract

Abstractthis research was developed to investigate the expression level of miR520a-5p in serum of fetal growth restriction (FGR) and the role of its target genes, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 (MEK1), in the pathogenesis of FGR. Thirty cases in the FGR group and 30 cases in the normal birth weight group (control group) were selected. MiR520a-5p expression and its target genes MEK1 and MAPK mRNA in the two groups were detected by RT‒PCR. The protein levels of the target genes MEK1 and MAPK of miR520a-5p were determined by Western blotting. The Spearman grade correlation was used to analyze the correlation between the expression levels of miR520a-5p and MEK1 in serum of FGR group and the correlation between MEK1 and MAPK expression. Compared with the control group, the expression of miR520a-5p in the FGR group was significantly increased (P < 0.05). MEK1 and MAPK mRNA levels of miR520a-5p target genes in the FGR group were drastically reduced (P < 0.05), while their protein levels were decreased (P < 0.05). Spearman rank correlation analysis suggested a negative correlation between miR-520a-5p and MEK1 (r = − 0.667;P < 0.05) and a positive correlation between MEK1 and MAPK (r = 0.46;P < 0.05). MEK1 and MAPK mRNA expressions in fetal growth and development were detected, and the decreased expression of MEK1 and MAPK mRNA was correlated with the pathogenesis of FGR. MiR520a-5p may participate in the pathogenesis of FGR through the MIRR520A-5P-MEK1-MAPK signaling pathway.