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Shi Y, Shen F, Chen X, Sun M, Zhang P. Current understanding of circular RNAs in preeclampsia. Hypertens Res 2024; 47:1607-1619. [PMID: 38605141 DOI: 10.1038/s41440-024-01675-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
Preeclampsia (PE) is a multiple organ and system disease that seriously threatens the safety of the mother and infant during pregnancy, and has a profound impact on the morbidity and mortality of the mother and new babies. Presently, there are no remedies for cure of PE as to the mechanisms of PE are still unclear, and the only way to eliminate the symptoms is to deliver the placenta. Thus, new therapeutic targets for PE are urgently needed. Approximately 95% of human transcripts are thought to be non-coding RNAs, and the roles of them are to be increasingly recognized of great importance in various biological processes. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a class of non-coding RNAs, with no 5' caps and 3' polyadenylated tails, commonly produced by back-splicing of exons. The structure of circRNAs makes them more stable than their counterparts. Increasing evidence shows that circRNAs are involved in the pathogenesis of PE, but the biogenesis, functions, and mechanisms of circRNAs in PE are poorly understood. In the present review, we mainly summarize the biogenesis, functions, and possible mechanisms of circRNAs in the development and progression of PE, as well as opportunities and challenges in the treatment and prevention of PE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yajun Shi
- Institute for Fetology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Fangrong Shen
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Xionghui Chen
- Department of Emergency Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.
- Institute of Trauma Medicine, Soochow University, Suzhou, China.
- Jiangsu Provincial Medical Innovation Center of Trauma Medicine, Suzhou, China.
| | - Miao Sun
- Institute for Fetology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.
| | - Pengjie Zhang
- Institute for Fetology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.
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Xie N, Wang F, Chen D, Zhou J, Xu J, Qu F. Immune dysfunction mediated by the competitive endogenous RNA network in fetal side placental tissue of polycystic ovary syndrome. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0300461. [PMID: 38512862 PMCID: PMC10956758 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0300461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a common endocrine and metabolic disorder affecting women in their reproductive years. Emerging evidence suggests that the maternal-fetal immune system is crucial for proper pregnancy. However, whether immune function is altered at the end of pregnancy in PCOS women and the underlying molecular mechanisms is currently unexplored. Herein, the basic maternal immune system was investigated (n = 136 in the control group; n = 103 in the PCOS group), and whole-transcriptome sequencing was carried out to quantify the mRNAs, miRNAs, and lncRNAs expression levels in fetal side placental tissue of women with PCOS. GO, KEGG, and GSEA analysis were employed for functional enrichment analysis. The process of identifying hub genes was conducted utilizing the protein-protein interaction network. CIBERSORT and Connectivity Map were deployed to determine immune cell infiltration and predict potential drugs, respectively. A network of mRNA-miRNA-lncRNA was constructed and then validated by qRT-PCR. First, red blood cell count, neutrophil count, lymphocyte count, hypersensitive C-reactive protein, and procalcitonin were significantly elevated, while placental growth factor was hindered in PCOS women. We identified 308 DEmRNAs, 77 DEmiRNAs, and 332 DElncRNAs in PCOS samples. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that there were significant changes observed in terms of the immune system, especially the chemokine pathway. Eight genes, including FOS, JUN, EGR1, CXCL10, CXCR1, CXCR2, CXCL11, and CXCL8, were considered as hub genes. Furthermore, the degree of infiltration of neutrophils was dramatically decreased in PCOS tissues. In total, 57 ceRNA events were finally obtained, and immune-related ceRNA networks were validated. Some potential drug candidates, such as enalapril and RS-100329, could have a function in PCOS therapy. This study represents the inaugural attempt to evaluate the immune system at the end of pregnancy and placental ceRNA networks in PCOS, indicating alterations in the chemokine pathway, which may impact fetal and placental growth, and provides new therapy targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ningning Xie
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, International Institutes of Medicine, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu, Zhejiang, China
| | - Fangfang Wang
- Women’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Danqing Chen
- Women’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jue Zhou
- College of Food Science and Biotechnology, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jian Xu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, International Institutes of Medicine, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu, Zhejiang, China
| | - Fan Qu
- Women’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
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Zhou W, Li X, Li X, Liu Y, Song W, Yang Q. The role of circular RNA in preeclampsia: From pathophysiological mechanism to clinical application. Life Sci 2024; 338:122407. [PMID: 38184270 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2023.122407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2023] [Revised: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/08/2024]
Abstract
Preeclampsia (PE) is a common pregnancy-induced hypertension disorder that poses a significant threat to the health of pregnant women and fetuses, and has become a leading cause of maternal, fetal, and neonatal mortality. Currently, the therapy strategy for PE is mainly prevention management and symptomatic treatment, and only delivery can completely terminate PE. Therefore, a deeper understanding of the pathogenesis of PE is needed to make treatment and prevention more effective and targeted. With the deepening of molecular etiology research, circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been found to be widely involved in various processes of PE pathogenesis. As a kind of RNA with a special "head to tail" loop structure, the characteristics of circRNAs enable them to play diverse roles in the pathophysiology of PE, and can also serve as ideal biomarkers for early prediction and monitoring progression of PE. In this review, we summarized the latest research on PE-related circRNAs, trying to elucidate the unique or shared roles of circRNAs in various pathophysiological mechanisms of PE, aiming to provide a whole picture of current research on PE-related circRNAs, and extend a new perspective for the precise screening and targeted therapy of PE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjing Zhou
- Medical Research Center, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China; Department of Cancer Epidemiology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
| | - Xiuying Li
- Medical Research Center, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China.
| | - Xin Li
- Medical College, Jilin Engineering Vocational College, Siping, Jilin, China.
| | - Yaojia Liu
- Medical Research Center, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China.
| | - Wenling Song
- Department of Obstetrics, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China.
| | - Qiwei Yang
- Medical Research Center, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China.
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Giannubilo SR, Cecati M, Marzioni D, Ciavattini A. Circulating miRNAs and Preeclampsia: From Implantation to Epigenetics. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1418. [PMID: 38338700 PMCID: PMC10855731 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
In this review, we comprehensively present the literature on circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) associated with preeclampsia, a pregnancy-specific disease considered the primary reason for maternal and fetal mortality and morbidity. miRNAs are single-stranded non-coding RNAs, 20-24 nt long, which control mRNA expression. Changes in miRNA expression can induce a variation in the relative mRNA level and influence cellular homeostasis, and the strong presence of miRNAs in all body fluids has made them useful biomarkers of several diseases. Preeclampsia is a multifactorial disease, but the etiopathogenesis remains unclear. The functions of trophoblasts, including differentiation, proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis, are essential for a successful pregnancy. During the early stages of placental development, trophoblasts are strictly regulated by several molecular pathways; however, an imbalance in these molecular pathways can lead to severe placental lesions and pregnancy complications. We then discuss the role of miRNAs in trophoblast invasion and in the pathogenesis, diagnosis and prediction of preeclampsia. We also discuss the potential role of miRNAs from an epigenetic perspective with possible future therapeutic implications.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Monia Cecati
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60020 Ancona, Italy; (S.R.G.); (A.C.)
| | - Daniela Marzioni
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60126 Ancona, Italy;
| | - Andrea Ciavattini
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60020 Ancona, Italy; (S.R.G.); (A.C.)
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税 丽, 许 文, 何 国. [Latest Research Findings on Prediction of Preeclampsia in Pregnant Women Based on Analysis of Cell-Free RNA in Peripheral Blood]. SICHUAN DA XUE XUE BAO. YI XUE BAN = JOURNAL OF SICHUAN UNIVERSITY. MEDICAL SCIENCE EDITION 2022; 53:1016-1020. [PMID: 36443045 PMCID: PMC10408976 DOI: 10.12182/20220860104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Preeclampsia gravely threatens the health of mothers and infants. At present, treatment based on the relevant mechanisms of pathogenesis is still not available, and there is no independent reliable clinical index for early prediction of preeclampsia. According to recent studies, analysis of the cell-free RNA in the peripheral blood of pregnant women has shown that testing certain cell-free RNA levels can help predict in advance the occurrence of preeclampsia before clinical symptoms appear. In this paper, we described the status of research and progress in using maternal cell-free RNA analysis in predicting preeclampsia. In addition, we stated that cell-free RNA in peripheral blood may become a promising, real-time and non-invasive monitoring method that can be used to explore the mechanisms of pathogenesis and pathophysiology of preeclampsia and to identify different subtypes of preeclampsia.
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Affiliation(s)
- 丽萍 税
- 四川大学华西第二医院 产科 (成都 610041)Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - 文明 许
- 四川大学华西第二医院 产科 (成都 610041)Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
- 出生缺陷与相关妇儿疾病教育部重点实验室(四川大学) (成都 610041)Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children of the Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - 国琳 何
- 四川大学华西第二医院 产科 (成都 610041)Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
- 出生缺陷与相关妇儿疾病教育部重点实验室(四川大学) (成都 610041)Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children of the Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
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