Small RNA sequencing analysis of exosomes derived from umbilical plasma in IUGR lambs

During the summer, pregnant ewes experience heat stress, leading to the occurrence of IUGR lambs. This study aims to explore the biomarkers of exosomal miRNAs derived from umbilical plasma in both IUGR and normal Hu lambs. We establish a heat-stressed Hu sheep model during mid-late gestation and selected IUGR and normal lambs for analysis. Exosomes from umbilical plasma were separated and small RNA sequencing is used to identify differentially expressed miRNAs. Next, we utilize MiRanda to predict the target genes of the differentially expressed miRNAs. To further understand the biological significance of these miRNAs, we conduct GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis for their target genes. The study’s findings indicate that oar-miR-411a-5p is significantly downregulated in exosomes derived from umbilical plasma of IUGR lambs, while oar-miR-200c is significantly upregulated in the HS-IUGR group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, GO and KEGG enrichment analysis demonstrate that the target genes are involved in the Wnt, TGF-beta, and Rap1 signaling pathways. miRNAs found in exosomes have the potential to be utilized as biomarkers for both the diagnosis and treatment of IUGR fetuses.