MicroRNA-206 functions as a potential oligonucleotide therapeutics in preterm birth

To the Editor:Spontaneous preterm labor(PTL)causes infant morbidity and mortality.Regular uterine contractions were the common characteristics in spontaneous labor at term or PTL.Thus,effective decrease or suppression of myometrial contraction could prevent preterm delivery.We discovered that microRNA-206(miR-206)was a myometrium contraction-associated miRNA based on the transcriptome data of human laboring myometrium and indicated that miR-206 suppressed myometrial contractility by targeting junction protein alpha 1(GJA1)in the myometrium and would be a new potential therapeutic for preterm birth.Administration of miR-206 in RU486-induced PTL decreased myometrial contractility,prolonged pregnancy,reversed PTL to term labor,and improved perinatal outcomes.