Decreased placental miR-126 expression and vascular endothelial growth factor levels in patients with pre-eclampsia

Abstract

Objectives To detect microRNA (miR)-126 expression and its correlation with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels in placentas from patients with pre-eclampsia compared with those from normotensive pregnancies. Methods miR-126 expression, and VEGF mRNA and protein levels, in placentas collected sequentially from patients with pre-eclampsia and normotensive pregnancies were measured using real-time reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction and Western blot, respectively. The relationship between miR-126 and VEGF expression was analysed statistically. The regulatory effect of miR-126 on VEGF expression in human placental choriocarcinoma (BeWo) cells in vitro was also investigated. Results miR-126 expression was decreased, and VEGF mRNA and protein levels were significantly lower, in placentas from patients with pre-eclampsia ( n = 115) compared with placentas from normotensive pregnancies ( n = 115). A positive correlation was found between VEGF mRNA and miR-126 expression ( r = 0.79). In addition, miR-126 overexpression significantly upregulated VEGF expression in BeWo cells, whereas miR-126 downregulation decreased VEGF expression. Conclusions miR-126 was downregulated in placentas from patients with pre-eclampsia and this correlated with decreased VEGF expression. These findings indicate that miRNA-126 may be involved in pre-eclampsia pathogenesis and could be a potential biomarker for this disease.