Long non‐coding RNA MALAT1 expression in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus

Abstract Objective To monitor the expression of long non‐coding RNA s (lnc RNA s) and changes in metabolic profiles among patients with gestational diabetes mellitus ( GDM ). Methods A retrospective case–control study was conducted using data for women treated at a hospital in China between October 8, 2014, and April 15, 2015. Patients diagnosed with GDM using an oral glucose tolerance test at 24–28 weeks of pregnancy (n=50) were included. The control group comprised pregnant women without GDM (n=47). Serum levels of lnc RNA MALAT 1 , lnc RNA p21 , and lnc RNA H19 were assessed using the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Plasma glucose and lipid levels were assessed biochemically. Results The expression level of lnc RNA MALAT 1 was higher among the cases than the controls ( P =0.007). Expression of Inc RNA MALAT 1 among the patients with GDM correlated with both lnc RNA p21 ( r =0.333, P =0.018) and lnc RNA H19 ( r =0.314, P =0.030). Levels of triglycerides and total cholesterol differed between the control group and patients with GDM (3.6 ± 2.6 mmol/L vs 3.8 ± 1.5 mmol/L and 6.54 ± 1.30 mmol/L vs 7.40 ± 0.90 mmol/L, respectively; P <0.05). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.654 (95% confidence interval 0.543–0.768, P <0.001). Conclusion Expression of lnc RNA MALAT 1 could offer a novel biomarker to predict GDM .