Exploring microRNAs as Potential Markers of TTTS
Updated: Aug 27
Medical research does not always produce a positive result - and understanding what does not work can be just as important as discovering what does.
In 2019, researchers published the first study to investigate whether microRNAs in maternal blood might help distinguish pregnancies affected by twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome from uncomplicated monochorionic twin pregnancies.
MicroRNAs are small molecules involved in regulating gene activity. Because they play a role in placental development and are already studied as biomarkers in other areas of medicine, researchers wanted to understand whether they might also provide useful information in TTTS.
Initial testing identified a number of apparent differences between samples from TTTS and control pregnancies. However, these differences were not confirmed when the researchers carried out further validation.
The study therefore did not identify a reliable maternal blood microRNA marker for TTTS. Instead, it helped define where further investigation may be useful, including research involving other types of biological samples such as placental tissue.
Researcher Fiona Mackie was funded by The Richard and Jack Wiseman Trust.
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