{
  "id": 3006156,
  "title": "Placental microRNA signatures of spontaneous preterm birth",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/placental-microrna-signatures-of-spontaneous-preterm-birth",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-08-24T00:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "bioRxiv",
    "slug": "biorxiv",
    "url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.08.21.746278v1?rss=1"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Background: Placental microRNAs, small non-coding RNA molecules, play a crucial role in post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression throughout pregnancy. Spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB) is characterized by significant differences in placental pathophysiology and gene expression compared to term birth. The objective of this study was to identify microRNA signatures associated with sPTB and link them to target genes using a microRNA-mRNA network.\n\nMethods: This research was part of the Conditions Affecting Neurocognitive Development and Learning in Early childhood (CANDLE) study. Placental samples were obtained at delivery, and RNA was isolated for subsequent mRNA and microRNA sequencing. To analyze sPTB, the study excluded placental samples from participants with iatrogenic indications for preterm birth or induced labor. The researchers compared microRNA expression in participants who delivered before 37 weeks (N=35) to those who delivered at term (N=404) using covariate-adjusted linear regression models. Additionally, paired placental microRNA and mRNA expression data was utilized to validate associations between computationally predicted microRNA-mRNA pairs and to construct a microRNA-mRNA network.\n\nResults: Seven microRNAs demonstrated increased expression levels in participants who experienced spontaneous preterm birth compared to those with term births (FDR).",
  "summary": "Background: The placenta has a unique transcriptomic profile, including microRNAs that are secreted into maternal circulation throughout pregnancy. MicroRNAs are small, non-coding RNA that post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression. Spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB) is associated with substantial differences in both placental pathophysiology and placental gene expression compared to term…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}