Objective  To investigate the expression of miRNA-148b-3p and its target gene in the placenta between normal pregnant women and pregnant women with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) and to explore the possible mechanism of glucose metabolism of offspring with maternal cholestasis.

  Methods  There were 30 cases of normal pregnant women and 30 cases of pregnant women with ICP recruited in the study, all of whom underwent cesarean delivery from Mar. 2017 to Jan. 2018. Placenta tissues, maternal blood and cord blood were collected in each case. Maternal blood and cord blood were sent for biochemical detection. miRNA of placenta tissues was extracted and qRT-PCR was used to measure the expression of miR-148b-3p in the placenta. Normal HTR-8 cells were transfected with miR-148b-3p inhibitor/mimics wrapped with lipofectaine3000. qRT-PCR was used to measure the expression of miR-148b-3p, and Western blot was used to measure the expression of glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) after transfection.

  Results  Maternal fasting blood glucose (FPG) and its fetal cord blood insulin levels in the ICP group were significantly higher than those of control. The expression of miR-148b-3p in the placenta of ICP group was lower than that of control group (P<0.05). Compared with inhibitor control group, the expression of miR-148b-3p was decreased in HTR-8 cells transfected with miR-148b-3p inhibitor (P<0.05), while the expression of GLUT1 was increased (P<0.05). Compared with mimics control group, the expression of miR-148b-3p was increased in HTR-8 cells transfected with miR-148b-3p mimics (P<0.05), while the expression of GLUT1 was decreased (P<0.05).

  Conclusion  miR-148b-3p might participate in glucose metabolism of offspring with maternal cholestasis through the negative regulation of GLUT1 expression in placental trophoblast cells.