miR‐24‐3p regulation of retinol binding protein 4 in trophoblast biofunction and preeclampsia

Abstract

Preeclampsia (PE) is a pregnancy‐related disease and is the leading cause of overall maternal mortality and morbidity. Our previous studies have shown that the serum and placental levels of retinol‐binding protein 4 (RBP4) in PE are reduced. Our previous bioinformatics analysis predicted that RBP4 is a target of the microRNA miRNA‐24‐3p. In this study, our database analysis also indicated that RBP4 is a miR‐24‐3p target. Compared with that of the normal placenta, the expression level of RBP4 in human PE placenta was significantly reduced, and miR‐24‐3p was highly expressed. In HTR‐8/SVneo cells, transfection of exogenous miR‐24‐3p reduced RBP4 expression. A dual‐luciferase reporter assay validated RBP4 as a direct target of miR‐24‐3p, indicating that it directly binds to the 3′‐untranslated region of RBP4. This binding was reversed by a mutation in the microRNA‐binding site. Transwell invasion experiments and CCK8 assay showed that inhibitory effect of miR‐24‐3p reduced RBP4 mediated HTR‐8/SVneo cell invasion and proliferation. These data provide a new overarching perspective on the physiological role played by miR‐24‐3p in regulating RBP4 during trophoblast dysfunction and PE development.

Effects of Subtoxic Concentrations of Atrazine, Cypermethrin, and Vinclozolin on microRNA-Mediated PI3K/Akt/mTOR Signaling in SH-SY5Y Cells

“…MicroRNAs (miRNAs), single-stranded, non-coding RNA molecules of 19–24 nucleotides, have a crucial role in epigenetic alterations because they are responsible for fine adjustments in mRNAs abundance and translation ratio, regulating gene expression through actions that influence several biological programs [ 19 ]. MiRNAs play a key role in numerous biological processes, including development, cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis [ 20 , 21 , 22 ]. Their interactions with environmental toxicants are being studied due to their rising importance as quoted by Lema and Cunningham [ 23 ]: “Increasing evidence that the expression of miRNAs is affected by several known toxicants as well as oxidative and other forms of cellular stress certainly suggest an important role of miRNAs in toxicology, which could provide a link between environmental influences and gene expression”.…”