Low expression of microRNA-21 inhibits trophoblast cell infiltration through targeting PTEN

C.-X. Lou, X.-T. Zhou, Q.-C. Tian, H.-Q. Xie, J.-Y. Zhang

Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The Third Hospital of Ji’nan, Ji’nan, China. Louchunx73@163.com

---

• Obstetrics

OBJECTIVE: We investigate whether microRNA-21 could increase the infiltration ability of trophoblast cells via regulating PTEN expression, thus participating in the occurrence and development of preeclampsia.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: MicroRNA-21 expression in the placenta tissues of preeclampsia women and normal pregnant women was detected by quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR). The effects of microRNA-21 on cell proliferation and infiltration were examined by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and transwell assay, respectively. The dual-luciferase reporter gene assay was used to determine the binding relationship between microRNA-21 and PTEN. Western blot was performed to detect PTEN and microRNA-21 in trophoblasts.

RESULTS: QRT-PCR results showed that the microRNA-21 expression was significantly lower in the placenta of the preeclampsia women than those of normal pregnant women. Overexpression of microRNA-21 in HTR-8/SVneo cells had no effect on cell proliferation, but enhanced cell infiltration ability. Inhibition of microRNA-21 in trophoblasts showed the opposite effects. The results of luciferase activity assay and Western blot showed that microRNA-21 could target PTEN and downregulate its expression. Overexpression of PTEN in HTR-8/SVneo cells partially reversed the enhanced invasive ability induced by microRNA-21 overexpression.

CONCLUSIONS: Low expression of microRNA-21 attenuated cell infiltration of trophoblasts via direct regulating PTEN expression.

Free PDF Download