Plasma levels of miR-19-5p correlate with sFLT-1 levels in gestational diabetes mellitus

Background: Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is a major complication of pregnancy that can seriously affect the health of mother and fetus. sFlt1 and miR-19-5p have been proved to be involved in the complications of GDM. Our study aimed to investigate the effects of sFlt1 and miR-19-5p on the complications of GDM. Method: Pregnant women with GDM who gave birth to normal babies and babies with macrosomia, and Fetal Growth Restriction (FGR) as well as normal pregnant women were included. Levels of soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) and miR-195-5p in prepartum serum and postpartum placental samples were detected, and level of sFlt1 in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVECs) transfected with miR-195-5p was also measured. Results: GDM pregnant women that delivered normal and FGR babies had higher levels of both miR-195-5p and sFlt1 compared with GDM pregnant women who delivered macrosomia babies or normal pregnant women. Transfection with miR-195-5p decreased expression level of sFlt1 and decreased level of p-VEGFR2 in HUVECs, leading to inhibition of VEGFR2-mediated neonatal angiogenesis. It was also confirmed that the placental blood vessel density was decreased, leading to