ESPE Abstracts

Objective: The mechanism underlying postnatal growth failure and catch up growth in small for gestational age (SGA) is poorly understood. This study attempted to identify exosomal miRNA signature associated with catch – up growth in SGA children.

Methods: A total sixteen SGA children and 10 appropriate for gestational age (AGA) children included in this study. Exosomal miRNA was analyzed with next generation sequencing (NGS). Profiling exosomal miRNA was performed in 5 SGA with catch up (SGA – CU), 6 SGA – non CU, and 5 AGA children. Differentially expressed miRNA were analyzed between SGA and AGA groups.

Results: Exosomal miRNAs profile was clearly divided into three groups. The exosomal miRNAs expression profile of SGA – nonCU was apparently different than that of SGA – CU and AGA. Twenty two miRNAs were differentially expressed between SGA – non CU and AGA, while 19 miRNAs between SGA – nonCU and SGA –CU were differentially expressed. Whereas 6 miRNAs were differentially expressed between SGA – CU and AGA. MiR-874-3p was upregulated and miR-6126 was downregulated in both SGA – non CU and SGA – CU. Therefore, these two miRNAs might be biomarkers for SGA. Compared to SGA-CU and AGA, miR-30c-5p, miR-363-3p, miR-29a-3p and miR-29c-3p were upregulated in SGA – nonCU, and miR-629-5p and miR-23a-5p were downregulated. These six miRNAs might be associated with growth failure in SGA – non CU.

Conclusions: SGA children without catch up growth have a distinct exosomal miRNA expression profile compared with AGA and SGA children with catch up growth. Exosomal miRNAs could serve as novel biomarkers helping to resolve the mystery of catch – up growth mechanisms.