Distinct subsets of microRNAs are expressed differentially in the human placentas of patients with preeclampsia.
OBJECTIVE
Preeclampsia and small-for-gestational age (SGA) neonates have partially overlapping clinicopathologic features. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are critical posttranscriptional regulators of gene expression. This study was performed to determine whether preeclampsia and SGA are associated with alterations in placental miRNA expression.


METHODS
Placentas were obtained from patients with (1) preeclampsia (n = 9); (2) SGA (n = 9); (3) preeclampsia + SGA (n = 9); and (4) a control group with spontaneous preterm labor and delivery (PTL; n = 9). The expression of 157 miRNAs was assessed by real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.


RESULTS
Differential expression between preeclampsia and the control group (miR-210, miR-182) and between preeclampsia + SGA and the control group (miR-210, miR-182*, and others) was found. Gene Ontology analysis of the target genes revealed enrichment for specific biological process categories (antiapoptosis: miR-182; regulation of transcription: miR-210).


CONCLUSIONS
This study reports, for the first time, increased expression of specific placental miRNAs in preeclampsia with and without SGA. The findings also provide novel targets for further investigation of the pathophysiology of preeclampsia.
Pineles
Beth L
BL
Perinatology Research Branch, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development/National Institutes of Health/Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, USA.
Romero
Roberto
R
Montenegro
Daniel
D
Tarca
Adi L
AL
Han
Yu Mi
YM
Kim
Yeon Mee
YM
Draghici
Sorin
S
Espinoza
Jimmy
J
Kusanovic
Juan Pedro
JP
Mittal
Pooja
P
Hassan
Sonia S
SS
Kim
Chong Jai
CJ
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy
D035683:MicroRNAs