MicroRNA-206 predicts raised fetal growth retardation risk through the interaction with vascular endothelial growth factor in pregnancies

This study aimed to investigate the correlation of microRNA (miR)-206, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and miR-206/VEGF axis at different gestational ages with fetal growth retardation (FGR) risk in pregnancies. Eight hundred twenty pregnancies were consecutively recruited and their plasma samples were collected at early pregnancy (gestational age ≤ 13 weeks), middle pregnancy (gestational age: 14–27 weeks) and late pregnancy (gestational age ≥ 28 weeks), respectively. miR-206 expression and VEGF level in plasma were detected by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay respectively. FGR was diagnosed based on the actual birth weight of fetus. miR-206 expression was negatively correlated with VEGF expression at early pregnancy, middle pregnancy and late pregnancy. Besides, miR-206 expression and miR-206/VEGF axis were elevated, but VEGF expression was decreased along with the increased gestational age. There were 74 FGR pregnancies and 746 non-FGR pregnancies. And both miR-206 expression and miR-206/VEGF axis were increased, but VEGF expression was reduced in FGR group compared to non-FGR group at early pregnancy, middle pregnancy and late pregnancy. Additionally, miR-206, VEGF and miR-206/VEGF axis at middle pregnancy and late pregnancy all showed good predictive values for FGR risk, and these indexes at late pregnancy exhibited the numerically highest predictive value for FGR risk. Furthermore, compared to miR-206 or VEGF alone, miR-206/VEGF axis presented with numerically higher predictive value for FGR risk. miR-206 predicts raised FGR risk through the interaction with VEGF in pregnancies, and it may serve as a novel biomarker for FGR prevention.