title: Identification of Early-Onset Preeclampsia-Related Genes and MicroRNAs by Bioinformatics Approaches.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Early-onset preeclampsia (EOPET), resulting in intrauterine growth restriction, has serious impact on maternal, perinatal, and neonatal livability worldwide. The current study conducted bioinformatics analyses to screen key genes and microRNAs (miRNAs) involved in EOPET and thus to explore the molecular mechanisms of EOPET.
  
  
  METHODS
  The microarray data set GSE44711 containing 8 EOPET placentas and 8 gestational age-matched controls was obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened and subjected to gene ontology functional enrichment analysis. Then, Human Protein Reference Database was used to construct protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of DEGs. Besides, we predicted EOPET-associated miRNAs and built the miRNA regulatory network.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 150 DEGs including 26 upregulated and 124 downregulated genes were obtained. Corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) and vitronectin (VTN) was the most significantly upregulated and downregulated genes, respectively. The DEGs were mainly related to the biological process (BP) of pregnancy, hormone-involved process, and formation of extracellular region. Analysis of PPI network revealed that fibronectin 1(FN1), FBJ murine osteosarcoma viral oncogene homolog (FOS), CD247 molecule (CD247), VTN, and interleukin 2 receptor, beta (IL2RB) were the top 5 DEGs with highest node degree. Furthermore, many EOPET-associated miRNAs were identified and miR-142-3p was the most significant one. Additionally, multiple miRNAs, such as miR-200b/c and miR-27a/b, were predicted to regulate the expression of several key DEGs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current study identified several regulators in EOPET, which may contribute to interpret the molecular mechanism of EOPET and develop novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets for EOPET.
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics & Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shan xi, China Obstetrics & Gynecology, the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics & Gynecology, the Hospital of Heilongjiang Province, Harbin, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics & Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shan xi, China yueyueLiyl@163.com.
authors.forename: Rui Fang
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: An
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D019295:Computational Biology; D030541:Databases, Genetic; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling / Q000379:methods*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D053263:Gene Regulatory Networks; D005819:Genetic Markers; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D010641:Phenotype; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D060066:Protein Interaction Maps
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers; D035683:MicroRNAs
keywords: bioinformatics; differentially expressed genes; early-onset preeclampsia; miRNA