The value of lncRNAs as a biomarker for the pregnancy outcomes of gestational diabetes: a meta-analysis

Background: Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are tissue-specific and highly stable and may serve as early molecular markers of adverse pregnancy outcomes in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

Aims: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between aberrant expression of lncRNAs and adverse pregnancy outcomes in GDM patients.

Methods: We searched electronic databases: Embase, Medline, EBSCO, PubMed, CNKI, and Wanfang databases to find relevant articles. Included studies quality was assessed using the QUADAS-2 quality assessment tool. Prognostic value of lncRNAs were pooled using risk ratio (RR) with 95% confidence interval (95%CI). The heterogeneity was analyzed using the Cochran Q test and I² statistical test, and subgroup analyses were performed to explore the sources of heterogeneity. Begg's test funnel plots were analyzed for publication bias.

Results: The review included nine studies. Overall, the review found that altered expression of lncRNAs was associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes of GDM patients (RR: 1.616, 95%CI: 1.308-1.996), and was a risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes both of Infants (RR: 1.68, 95% CI: 1.30-2.17) and maternal (RR: 4.14, 95% CI: 1.90-9.03) in patients with GDM. The diagnostic procedure, diagnostic criteria, expression trend of lncRNAs, and adverse pregnancy outcomes were the sources of heterogeneity.

Conclusions: Aberrant expression of lncRNAs was strongly associated with the adverse pregnancy outcomes in GDM.