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Figure 5 | BMC Medicine

Figure 5

From: Ancestral exposure to stress epigenetically programs preterm birth risk and adverse maternal and newborn outcomes

Figure 5

Ancestral stress alters expression of miRNA and their target genes in the uterus and placenta. (A) Arbitrary maternal uterine miR-200b expression levels across F0, F1 and F2 generations (n = 3). Multigenerational stress in the F1-SS and the F2-SSS generations elevated miR-200b expression levels. Sno202, U6 and 5 s rRNA were used as references. (B) Arbitrary maternal uterine miR-429 expression levels across F0, F1 and F2 generations. Multigenerational stress in the F1 and F2 generations downregulated miR-429 expression. (C) Fold change of placental miR-181a expression in female offspring. Ancestral stress elevated miR-181a expression in female offspring in the F2 generation, but not in F1 animals. (D-F) Arbitrary uterine Stat5b, Zeb1 and Zeb2 mRNA levels across F0, F1 and F2 generations. Stress reduced Stat5b, Zeb1 and Zeb2 gene expression in the F1-SS generation. Reduced Zeb2 gene expression also occurred in the F2-SSS generation (F). GAPDH was used as a reference. Asterisks indicate significances: *P <0.05; **P <0.01, compared to the respective non-stress controls. miRNA, microRNA.

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