Abstract
Objective Preeclampsia (PE) is a pregnancy-specific condition featured by high blood pressure,
edema, and proteinuria. Research about the role of microRNA (miR)-203 in PE remains
insufficient. This experiment is designed to investigate the specific role of miR-203
in trophoblasts in PE.
Study Design miR-203 expression in placenta tissues of normal pregnant women and PE patients was
examined to analyze the relevance between miR-203 and PE diagnostic efficiency and
between miR-203 and blood pressure (systolic pressure and diastolic pressure) and
proteinuria of PE patients. miR-203 expression was downregulated in hypoxia-cultured
trophoblasts using miR-203 inhibitor to assess matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9)
level. Then, the angiogenesis of trophoblasts with different treatments was determined.
Subsequently, the target relation between miR-203 and insulin-like growth factor receptor
1 (IGF-1R) was predicted and verified. Additionally, the effect of IGF-1R in the mechanism
of miR-203 modulating trophoblast vascular remodeling was detected.
Results miR-203 was overexpressed in the placenta of PE patients and it acted as a promising
diagnostic indicator for PE. Moreover, miR-203 was positively associated with blood
pressure (systolic pressure and diastolic pressure) and proteinuria of PE patients.
miR-203 silencing in hypoxia-cultured trophoblasts enhanced trophoblast vascular remodeling.
Mechanically, miR-203 bound to IGF-1R to suppress its transcription. IGF-1R downregulation
counteracted the promotive effect of miR-203 silencing on trophoblast vascular remodeling.
Conclusion miR-203 was overexpressed in PE, and it targeted IGF-1R to limit trophoblast vascular
remodeling.
Key Points
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miR-203 is overexpressed in the placenta of PE patients.
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miR-203 acts as a potential diagnostic marker for PE.
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miR-203 targets IGF-1R to reduce trophoblast vascular remodeling in PE.
Keywords
microRNA-203 - IGF-1R - preeclampsia - trophoblast - vascular remodeling - posttranscriptional
regulation
