Expression of miRNA-1233 in placenta from patients with hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy and its role in disease pathogenesis

Objective: This study is to investigate the expression of miRNA-1233 in placental tissue from patients with hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy (HDCP) and its role in disease pathogenesis.

Methods: The expression levels of miRNA-1233 and HoxB3 in placental tissue from HDCP patients and normal control subjects, as well as in the in vitro trophoblast cells, were detected with real-time PCR and Western blot analysis. The proliferation and invasion abilities of trophoblast cells were assessed by the cell counting kit (CCK)-8 and transwell chamber assays, respectively. Dual-luciferase reporter assay was performed to evaluate the interaction between miRNA-1233 and Hoxb3.

Results: Real-time PCR showed that, compared with the control group, the expression levels of miRNA-1233 were significantly elevated in placental tissue from HDCP patients. On the other hand, both the mRNA and protein expression levels of HoxB3 were significantly decreased in the HDCP group. Moreover, the mRNA and protein expression levels of HoxB3 were significantly declined by the transfection of miRNA-1233 mimics in trophoblast cells. Bioinformatics analysis and the dual-luciferase reporter gene assay showed that, miRNA-1233 targeted HoxB3 in the 3'-UTR and suppressed the gene expression. In addition, the results from the CCK-8 and transwell chamber assays showed that, the transfection of miRNA-1233 significantly decreased the proliferation and invasion abilities of the trophoblast cells.

Conclusion: In placental tissue from HDCP patients, up-regulated miR-1233 could suppress the expression of HoxB3, and then inhibit the invasion of trophoblast cells, which might contribute to the disease pathogenesis.