MicroRNA-22-3p is down-regulated in the plasma of Han Chinese patients with premature ovarian failure

Objective: To determine whether plasma microRNAs (miRNAs) are differentially expressed between women with and without premature ovarian failure (POF), and to uncover the association of miRNAs with risk of POF.

Design: Microarray with real-time polymerase chain reaction validation.

Setting: University hospital.

Patient(s): A total of 140 individuals with premature ovarian failure (POF) and 140 age- and body mass index-matched control subjects of Han Chinese ancestry.

Intervention(s): None.

Main outcome measure(s): Relative miRNA expression levels in plasma of POF and control group.

Result(s): Fifty-one differentially expressed miRNAs were identified by chip-based discovery stage between ten patients with POF and ten control subjects, among which nine miRNAs (let-7b-5p, let-7c, miR-15b-5p, miR-22-3p, miR-23a-3p, miR-23b-3p, miR-24-3p, miR-151a-5p, and miR-151b) were selected and validated. The relative expression level of miR-22-3p was significantly down-regulated in POF compared with control subjects. MiR-22-3p yielded a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve area of 0.668 (95% confidence interval 0.602-0.733) in discriminating POF from controls. In addition, logistic binary regression analysis and linear regression analysis showed the miR-22-3p to be a protective factor for POF (odds ratio 0.766, 95% CI 0.643-0.912) and negatively associated with serum FSH. Furthermore, bioinformatics analysis indicated that the target function of miR-22-3p was involved in apoptosis, endocytosis, and tumorigenesis.

Conclusion(s): Mir-22-3p showed a lower expression level in POF and was modestly effective in distinguishing POF from control subjects. The decreased expression of miR-22-3p in plasma of POF may reflect the diminished ovarian reserve and be a consequence of the pathologic process of POF.