Postpartum epigenetic profile of cardiovascular microRNAs in women exposed to pregnancy-related complications
Abstrakt
The present invention provides a method of predicting a risk of onset and development of cardiovascular and/or cerebrovascular disease for a woman with a history of pregnancy-related complications selected from gestational hypertension, preeclampsia and/or fetal growth restriction, said method comprising the steps of: - determining the level of expression of at least one microRNA marker selected from the group consisting of miR-1-3p, miR-17-5p, miR-20a-5p, miR-20b-5p, miR-29a-3p, miR-100-5p, miR-125b-5p, miR-126-3p, miR-130b-3p, miR-133a-3p, miR-143-3p, miR-145-5p, miR-146a-5p, miR-181a-5p, miR-199a-5p, miR-221-3p, and miR-499a-5p and combinations thereof, in a whole peripheral venous blood sample taken from the woman postpartum at least 3 years after delivery, preferably 3-11 years after delivery; - comparing the determined level(s) of expression of the said at least one microRNA marker with a reference cut-off value, wherein said reference cut-off value is obtained by statistical analysis of samples from women with a history of pregnancy-related complications and samples from women without a history of pregnancy-related complications; - wherein the upregulation of the said at least one microRNA marker exceeding the reference cut-off value indicates the risk of onset and development of cardiovascular and/or cerebrovascular disease for the woman.