Changes and clinical significance of plasma miR⁃15b and VEGF levels in premature infants with bronchopulmonary
dysplasia Zhang Wenwen, Weng Jingwen, Wu Dan, Xiang Xiying, Zheng Xu. Department of Neonatal Medicine, Beijing
Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100045,China
Corresponding author: Weng Jingwen, E⁃mail: drzcattery@ 163. com
Funding program: Capital Health Development Scientific Research Project (2020⁃3⁃7028)
【 Abstract】 Objective To analyze the changes and clinical significance of plasma miR⁃15b and vascular endothelial
growth factor (VEGF) levels in premature infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Methods A total of 148 premature in⁃
fants admitted to the Department of Neonatology, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, from March 2020
to March 2022 were collected. They were divided into bronchopulmonary dysplasia group (65 cases ) and normal develop⁃
ment group (normal group, 83 cases) based on whether or not they had bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Real⁃time fluorescence
quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the expression of miR⁃15b in plasma, and enzyme linked immu⁃
nosorbent assay was used to detect the level of VEGF in plasma. Relevant clinical data were collected. Pearson correlation
coefficient describes the correlation between miR⁃15b and VEGF, and multivariate logistic regression analysis is used to ana⁃
lyze the factors affecting bronchopulmonary dysplasia in premature infants. The value of miR⁃15b and VEGF in the auxiliary
diagnosis of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in preterm infants was analyzed by subject performance characteristic curve (ROC)
analysis. Results The expression of plasma miR⁃15b in the adverse group was higher than that in the normal group, and
the level of VEGF was lower than that in the normal group (
t/P = 12.754/ < 0.001, 31.023/ < 0.001). The expression of plasma
miR⁃15b was negatively correlated with VEGF (
r/P = - 0.617/ < 0.001). Large gestational age, high partial pressure of oxygen,
and high VEGF are protective factors for bronchopulmonary dysplasia in premature infants, while high miR⁃15b is a risk fac⁃
tor [
OR(95% CI) = 0.899 (0.845 - 0.958), 0.521 (0.356 - 0.764), 0.600 (0.442 - 0.814), and 1.540 (1.220 - 1.945)] . The area under
the curve of miR⁃15b, VEGF, and their combination in the diagnosis of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in premature infants was
0.728, 0.756, and 0.931, respectively, and the combination of the two was higher than that of the single diagnosis (
Z/P =
·414· 疑难病杂志 2023 年 4 月第 22 卷第 4 期 Chin J Diffic and Compl Cas,April 2023,Vol. 22,No. 4
4.543/ < 0.001, 4.207/ < 0.001). Conclusion The expression of miR⁃15b in the plasma of premature infants with bronchopul⁃
monary dysplasia is upregulated, and the level of VEGF is decreased. miR⁃15b may negatively regulate VEGF participation in
the process of bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
【 Key words】 Bronchopulmonary dysplasia; Premature infants; MiR⁃15b; Vascular endothelial growth factor