title: Characterization of the role of microRNA-517a expression in low birth weight infants.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to analyze the expression of the placenta-specific microRNA miR-517a in maternal serum and in placental tissue from low birth weight newborns and try to detect the effects of miR-517a expression on invasion potential of trophoblasts. Placental tissue and maternal serum were collected from both low birth weight newborns (n = 10) and normal birth weight newborns (n = 20). Expression of miR-517a was assessed in placenta and serum samples by real-time qRT-PCR. In addition, human trophoblast HTR8/SVneo cells were transfected with a miR-517a 2'-O-methyl oligonucleotide or a negative control RNA, and invasion was measured using transwell migration assays. Expression of miR-517a was significantly increased in placentas from low birth weight newborns (61.79 ± 23.06) in comparison with those of normal birth weight newborns (5.01 ± 1.97; P < 0.05). The expression of miR-517a was also increased in maternal serum isolated from the low birth weight newborn (25.78 ± 8.69) compared with the normal birth weight newborn (3.21 ± 1.07; P < 0.05). Overexpression of miR-517a significantly inhibited invasion of HTR8/SVneo cells (P < 0.05). These data indicate that miR-517a overexpression could potentially lead to low birth weight, likely through the inhibition of trophoblast invasion.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China.
authors.forename: G Y
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China.
authors.forename: W W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Shenyang Women and Children's Hospital, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China.
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Na