Exploring miR-222-3p and miR-16-5p: promising biomarkers for gestationaldiabetes mellitus diagnosis

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common complication during pregnancy, associated with various adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. Women with GDM have increased risks of cesarean delivery, pre-eclampsia, and gestational hypertension. Additionally, GDM raises the risk of impaired glucose metabolism, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases. This study enrolled 100 pregnant women under medical supervision at the Maternity and Children's Teaching Hospital in Al-Diwaniyah Governorate from September 5, 2024, to May 28, 2025, including 50 diagnosed with GDM and 50 healthy controls. There was no significant difference in mean age between the groups, although GDM patients tended to be slightly older. Expression levels of miR-222-3p and miR-16-5p were measured by quantitative real-time PCR. The mean Ct value for miR-222-3p was significantly lower in GDM patients (26.70) compared to controls (28.79), indicating higher expression in the patient group. Conversely, expression of miR-16-5p was reduced in GDM patients relative to controls. Our findings suggest that elevated miR-222-3p and decreased miR-16-5p levels in maternal blood may serve as promising biomarkers for early diagnosis and risk assessment of GDM.