25(OH)D status and expression of miR-140 in the serum of patients with developmental dysplasia of the hip

Abstract

Objectives: Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is one of the most common orthopedic birth defects in newborn infants, for whom early detection and treatment are critical. MiR-140 plays an important role in bone development and was found to be regulated by vitamin D receptors in our previous study. This study aimed to investigate vitamin D status and miR-140 expression in the circulation of patients with orthopedic conditions, including DDH.

Methods: The 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) status and miR-140 expression were determined in the serum of 120 patients with orthopedic conditions. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to evaluate the potential diagnosis capability of 25(OH)D status and miR-140 expression in DDH. A DDH rat model was also used to verify miR-140 expression in vivo.

Results: We found that most patients with orthopedic conditions have vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency, and patients with DDH are in the insufficiency range. MiR-140 was downregulated in the serum of patients with DDH patients and in the hip joints of rats with DDH. A panel of 25(OH)D and miR-140 showed robust performance in distinguishing DDH from controls.

Conclusions: Our results indicate that miR-140 may play an important role in DDH, with the potential capability of being a biomarker for the diagnosis of DDH.

Keywords: DDH; Vitamin D; miRNA.