Abstract: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is one common gestational complication of gestation period, which leads to serious consequences and even long-term effects on pregnant mother and their offspring. With the change of lifestyle, the incidence of the disease in China is increasing year by year. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of single-stranded small-molecule non-coding RNAs with a length of 19-24 nucleotides. They inhibit the transcription or translation of target genes by specifically binding to regulate biological processes such as cell development, differentiation and proliferation, early embryo development, fat metabolism, neuronal cell differentiation and autoimmune regulation. At present, the pathogenesis of GDM has not been fully illuminated. In recent years, the role of miRNAs in GDM′s pathogenesis has attracted much attention, mainly through insulin resistance, insulin secretion abnormalities and adipokines involved in the occurrence of GDM.

Key words: Diabetes, gestational, MicroRNAs, Insulin resistance, Receptor, insulin, Signal transduction, Adipokines