MicroRNAs in Preeclampsia

Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosome-mediated transfer of microRNA-133b boosts trophoblast cell proliferation, migration and invasion in preeclampsia by restricting SGK1

OBJECTIVE

Exosomes have been documented to function in human diseases, yet their transfer of microRNA (miRNA) in preeclampsia (PE) has seldom been reported. This study intends to discuss the role of miR-133b derived from exosomes in human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) in trophoblast cell development in PE.

METHODS

Placentas from PE patients and normal pregnant women were collected. The hUC-MSCs and their exosomes were obtained and identified. Trophoblast cell HPT-8 and HTR8-S/Vneo were obtained and co-cultured with hUC-MSCs-derived exosomes that had been transfected with different miR-133b plasmids. MiR-133b and glucocorticoid-regulated kinase 1 (SGK1) expression in placental tissues and HPT-8 and HTR8-S/Vneo cells was determined. HTR8-S/Vneo and HPT-8 cell proliferation, cell cycle distribution, apoptosis rate, migration and invasion were detected.

RESULTS

MiR-133b was down-regulated and SGK1 was up-regulated in placental tissues of PE patients. MiR-133b expression was inversely related to SGK1 expression in HTR8-S/Vneo and HPT-8 cells co-cultured with hUC-MSC-derived exosomes. Exosomes promoted HTR8-S/Vneo and HPT-8 cell proliferation, migration and invasion abilities, cell cycle entry and inhibited apoptosis. Elevated exosome-derived miR-133b from hUC-MSCs boosted HTR8-S/Vneo and HPT-8 cell proliferation, cell cycle progression, migration and invasion and limited cell apoptosis. MiR-133b targeted SGK1.

CONCLUSION

Collectively, we demonstrate that miR-133b is down-regulated and SGK1 is up-regulated in PE, and miR-133b derived from exosomes in hUM-MSCs facilitates trophoblast cell proliferation, migration and invasion in PE via constraining SGK1.

MicroRNA-16 is involved in the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia via regulation of Notch2

In recent years, the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in pre-eclampsia (PE) has been demonstrated, while the relevant mechanisms of miR-16 in PE await to be unearthed. Thus, the aim of this study is to explore whether miR-16 exerts its function in PE, and we assumed that miR-16 may be implicated in the occurrence of PE by adjusting the biological functions of trophoblast cells via modulating Notch2. Placental tissues of pregnant women with normal pregnancy and PE were collected to detect the expression of miR-16, Notch2, and Notch3. The effects of miR-16 and Notch2 on the biological functions of BeWo and JEG-3 cells were further determined. Expression of miR-16 and Notch2 in trophoblast cells was detected by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot assay. Downregulated Notch2 and upregulated miR-16 and Notch3 were found in placental tissues of PE. There was a negative correlation between Notch2 and miR-16 expression (r = -0.769), and a positive correlation between Notch3 and miR-16 expression (r = 0.676; p < .05). Overexpression of miR-16 inhibited proliferation, migration, and invasion, and facilitated the apoptosis of BeWo and JEG-3 cells, but overexpression of Notch2 reversed this trend. Overexpression of miR-16 inhibited Notch2 expression in BeWo and JEG-3 cells, and Notch2 was the target gene of miR-16. Our study highlights that overexpression of miR-16 is involved in PE by regulating the biological functions of trophoblast cells via inhibition of Notch2. This paper provides a new idea for further study of the pathogenesis of PE.

MicroRNA-652-3p promotes the proliferation and invasion of the trophoblast HTR-8/SVneo cell line by targeting homeobox A9 to modulate the expression of ephrin receptor B4

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are emerging as novel modulators in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia (PE). Multiple miRNAs have been shown to regulate the proliferation and invasion of trophoblast cells, which play a critical role in successful pregnancies. miR-652-3p has been identified as a novel disease-associated miRNA that is dysregulated in various pathological processes. However, whether miR-652-3p is dysregulated in PE and regulates the cellular function of trophoblast cells remains unknown. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the expression pattern of miR-652-3p in PE and explore its potential function in trophoblast cells. Herein, we found that miR-652-3p expression was significantly decreased in the placental tissues of pregnant women with PE. Cellular function experiments showed that overexpression of miR-652-3p promoted the viability, proliferation, and invasion of trophoblast cells in vitro. By contrast, inhibition of miR-652-3p had the opposite effect. Bioinformatics analysis predicted that homeobox A9 (HOXA9), a crucial regulator of trophoblast cell function, was a potential target gene of miR-652-3p. A luciferase reporter assay confirmed that miR-652-3p directly interacted with the 3'-untranslated region of HOXA9. Moreover, miR-652-3p was shown to negatively regulate the expression of HOXA9 and ephrin receptor B4 (EphB4) in trophoblast cells. Notably, overexpression of HOXA9 or EphB4 significantly reversed the regulatory effect of miR-652-3p on proliferation and invasion of trophoblast cells. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that miR-652-3p regulates the proliferation and invasion of trophoblast cells, possibly through targeting HOXA9 and modulating EphB4 expression.