HCMV-Encoded microRNAs as Potential Biomarkers of Cytomegalovirus-Associated Miscarriages in Women-Diyala, Iraq

Authors

• Rana Fattah Mahmood, Basic Science Department, College of Dentistry, University of Diyala, Baqubah, IraqFollow
• Marwa Mansour Hussein, Basic Science Department, College of Dentistry, University of Diyala, Baqubah, IraqFollow
• Ali Abdulkareem Ismael Legi, Basic Science Department, College of Dentistry, University of Diyala, Baqubah, IraqFollow
• Noura Bougacha-Elleuch, Laboratory of Molecular and Functional Genetics, Faculty of Sciences of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia.Follow
• Müge Fırat, Veterinary Department, Şabanözü Vocational High School, Çankırı Karatekin University, Çankırı, TurkeyFollow

Abstract

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes such as miscarriage. HCMV-encoded microRNAs may be a biomarker and reflect viral activity following the recent evidence about HCMV. Aim: This study aimed to analyze expression profiles of the selected human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) encoded miRNAs hcmv-miR-UL112-3p, hcmv-miR-US25-1-5p, and hcmv-miR-UL132 and their diagnostic value in women with miscarriage due to CMV DNA infection. A case-control trial was conducted in Diyala, Iraq, January to December 2025. Of 180 women with miscarriage, 50 individuals with CMV DNA-positive miscarriage cases with viral load >10³ copies/mL were included. Fifty CMV-seronegative pregnant non-miscarriage women were included as controls. The diagnosis of CMV IgM and IgG antibodies was performed by an automated VIDAS® System. Viral load was measured by real-time PCR. The circulating microRNAs were pulled from serum and monitored by RT-qPCR with stem-loop primers, followed by RT-qPCR for quantification with the 2⁻ΔΔCt method. ROC analysis was performed to evaluate diagnostic performance, and correlations were assessed using Pearson’s test. All three microRNAs were significantly upregulated in patients relative to controls. As expected, hcmv-miR-UL112-3p showed a 7.63-fold increase, hcmv-miR-US25-1-5p a 51.12-fold upregulation, and hcmv-miR-UL132 a 6.47-fold increase (p < 0.05). ROC analysis showed good diagnostic accuracy for all microRNAs that were studied, with the highest performance for hcmv-miR-UL132 (AUC = 0.96). The observed positive correlations between CMV IgM and microRNA expression were significant and corresponded to an association of CMV DNA infection. HCMV-encoded microRNAs are overexpressed in CMV-associated miscarriage and show strong diagnostic potential.

Keywords

Diagnostic biomarkers; HCMV; hcmv-miR-UL112-3p; hcmv-miR-US25-1-5p; hcmv-miR-UL132; Miscarriage; ROC curve; Viral microRNAs.

Subject Area

Biology

Article Type

Article

First Page

3511

Last Page

3519

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

How to Cite this Article

Mahmood, Rana Fattah; Hussein, Marwa Mansour; Legi, Ali Abdulkareem Ismael; Bougacha-Elleuch, Noura; and Fırat, Müge (2026) "HCMV-Encoded microRNAs as Potential Biomarkers of Cytomegalovirus-Associated Miscarriages in Women-Diyala, Iraq," Baghdad Science Journal: Vol. 23: Iss. 10, Article 7.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21123/2411-7986.5428