Hippo-YAP Pathway and Related miRNAs in Preterm Birth

NCT07695467 | Completed

• 3 other identifiers: TUBITAK-121S414121S414T-2022-954
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 44
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This completed observational study evaluated the expression of Hippo-YAP pathway-related genes and proteins and selected microRNAs in maternal blood, placental tissue, and myometrial tissue obtained from women who underwent cesarean delivery at term or preterm gestational ages. The study compared women with spontaneous preterm delivery and women with term delivery. Maternal blood, placental tissue, and myometrial tissue samples were analyzed using molecular, biochemical, and immunohistochemical methods to explore whether Hippo-YAP pathway activity and related miRNA expression patterns may be associated with the pathophysiology of preterm birth.

Conditions

Preterm Birth; Pregnancy; Preterm Labor

Keywords

Hippo-YAP pathway; preterm birth; placenta; myometrium; maternal blood; miRNA-195; miRNA-181c; miRNA-200a; miRNA-375; YAP1; TAZ; MST1; LATS1; qRT-PCR; immunohistochemistry

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Expression levels of Hippo-YAP pathway-related genes, proteins, and selected microRNAs

  Expression levels of Hippo-YAP pathway-related genes and proteins, including MST1, LATS1, YAP1, TAZ, MAP4K1, and PIK3C2B, and selected microRNAs, including miRNA-195, miRNA-181c, miRNA-200a, and miRNA-375, were compared between women with preterm delivery and women with term delivery using maternal blood, placental tissue, and myometrial tissue samples.

  Perioperative/Periprocedural

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Tissue-specific expression patterns of Hippo-YAP pathway biomarkers and related microRNAs

  Perioperative/Periprocedural

Study Arms (2)

Preterm Delivery Group

Women who underwent cesarean delivery between 24 and 34 weeks of gestation after spontaneous preterm labor. Maternal blood, placental tissue, and myometrial tissue samples were collected for molecular, biochemical, and immunohistochemical analyses.

Other: Laboratory Biomarker Analysis

Term Delivery Group

Women who underwent cesarean delivery after 39 weeks of gestation without active labor. Maternal blood, placental tissue, and myometrial tissue samples were collected as the term delivery comparison group.

Other: Laboratory Biomarker Analysis

Interventions

Laboratory Biomarker Analysis OTHER

Laboratory analysis of maternal blood, placental tissue, and myometrial tissue samples for Hippo-YAP pathway-related gene, protein, and microRNA expression. No treatment or clinical intervention was assigned to participants.

Preterm Delivery Group; Term Delivery Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 45 Years
• Sex: female
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Pregnant women who underwent cesarean delivery at Sivas Cumhuriyet University Faculty of Medicine and were included in either the spontaneous preterm delivery group or the term delivery comparison group.

You may qualify if:

• Pregnant women aged 18 years or older
• Singleton pregnancy
• Women who underwent cesarean delivery
• For the preterm delivery group: spontaneous preterm labor and delivery between 24 and 34 weeks of gestation
• For the term delivery group: cesarean delivery at term gestational age without active labor
• Written informed consent for participation and collection of maternal blood, placental tissue, and myometrial tissue samples

You may not qualify if:

• Multiple pregnancy
• Major fetal anomaly
• Clinical evidence of chorioamnionitis
• Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy
• Diabetes mellitus or gestational diabetes mellitus
• Autoimmune disease
• Chronic inflammatory disease
• Maternal systemic infection
• Placental abruption
• Premature rupture of membranes, if excluded in the original protocol
• Use of medications or presence of maternal conditions that could significantly affect inflammatory, molecular, or placental biomarker expression
• Refusal to provide informed consent

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Cumhuriyet University: lead
• The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Sivas Cumhuriyet University Faculty of Medicine

Sivas, Kayseri Ave, 58140, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Related Publications (3)

• Menon R. Spontaneous preterm birth, a clinical dilemma: etiologic, pathophysiologic and genetic heterogeneities and racial disparity. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2008;87(6):590-600. doi: 10.1080/00016340802005126.

  PMID: 18568457 BACKGROUND

• Goldenberg RL, Culhane JF, Iams JD, Romero R. Epidemiology and causes of preterm birth. Lancet. 2008 Jan 5;371(9606):75-84. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(08)60074-4.

  PMID: 18177778 BACKGROUND

• Chawanpaiboon S, Vogel JP, Moller AB, Lumbiganon P, Petzold M, Hogan D, Landoulsi S, Jampathong N, Kongwattanakul K, Laopaiboon M, Lewis C, Rattanakanokchai S, Teng DN, Thinkhamrop J, Watananirun K, Zhang J, Zhou W, Gulmezoglu AM. Global, regional, and national estimates of levels of preterm birth in 2014: a systematic review and modelling analysis. Lancet Glob Health. 2019 Jan;7(1):e37-e46. doi: 10.1016/S2214-109X(18)30451-0. Epub 2018 Oct 30.

  PMID: 30389451 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Premature Birth; Obstetric Labor, Premature

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Obstetric Labor Complications; Pregnancy Complications; Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications; Urogenital Diseases

Study Officials

• Nazan Yurtcu, MD, PhD

  Cumhuriyet University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: CASE CONTROL
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 2, 2026
• First Posted: July 10, 2026
• Study Start: June 1, 2021
• Primary Completion: April 1, 2024
• Study Completion: May 31, 2024
• Last Updated: July 10, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-07

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)