MicroRNAs in Uteroplacental Vascular Dysfunction

Abstract

Pregnancy complications of preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) are major causes of maternal and perinatal/neonatal morbidity and mortality. Although their etiologies remain elusive, it is generally accepted that they are secondary to placental insufficiency conferred by both failure in spiral artery remodeling and uteroplacental vascular malfunction. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small no-coding RNA molecules that regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. Increasing evidence suggests that miRNAs participate in virtually all biological processes and are involved in numerous human diseases. Differentially expressed miRNAs in the placenta are typical features of both preeclampsia and IUGR. Dysregulated miRNAs target genes of various signaling pathways in uteroplacental tissues, contributing to the development of both complications. In this review, we provide an overview of how aberrant miRNA expression in preeclampsia and IUGR impacts the expression of genes involved in trophoblast invasion and uteroplacental vascular adaptation.

LncRNA H19-Derived miR-675-5p Accelerates the Invasion of Extravillous Trophoblast Cells by Inhibiting GATA2 and Subsequently Activating Matrix Metalloproteinases

“…Within the context of trophoblast cell invasion, many studies have reported that various miRNAs and their target genes are associated with trophoblast cell invasion [ 12 , 46 , 47 ]. In this study, miR-675-5p promoted trophoblast cell invasion by direct suppressing GATA2 .…”

“…These ncRNAs can be classified into two main types: small ncRNAs (sncRNAs) with lengths of 20–50 nucleotides and long ncRNAs (lncRNAs) of >200 nucleotides [ 11 ]. Of the two types, sncRNAs, especially microRNAs (miRNAs), are also involved in the molecular mechanisms of EVT cell invasion [ 12 ]. However, little is known about the characteristic features of EVT-associated ncRNAs.…”

Non-Coding RNAs Regulate Placental Trophoblast Function and Participate in Recurrent Abortion

“…found that lncRNA TUG1 could target miR-29b to regulate angiogenesis, invasion, apoptosis, and proliferation of trophoblast cells. In addition (Hu and Zhang, 2019), outlined how the abnormal expression of miRNAs in PE and IUGR affects trophoblast infiltration and uterine placental vascular adaptation gene expression; therefore, that article will not be described in detail.…”

miRNAs and Their Gene Targets—A Clue to Differentiate Pregnancies with Small for Gestational Age Newborns, Intrauterine Growth Restriction, and Preeclampsia

“…We have shown that the sncRNA expression profile and their potential gene targets at the morula stage reflect the efficiency of maternal‒zygotic transition and blastulation while forming embryoblasts and trophoblasts. Despite the abundance of scientific reports on the role of miRNAs in the development of IUGR and PE, summarized and discussed in Hu’s review article [ 21 ], up to date there is no information on the key experimentally proven pathogenetic participants of the “miRNA-target gene” network, which differ in IUGR and PE. In this connection, and in order to test Huppertz’s hypothesis, we compared the transcriptome and proteomic profiles in the placenta tissue from the fetal to maternal surfaces as well as in the placental bed tissue from the decidual surface to the myometrial base, containing extravillous trophoblast cells and myometrial parts of the spiral arteries, from pregnant women with PE, IUGR, and small for gestational age (SGA) newborns.…”