MicroRNA-494 inhibits the growth and angiogenesis-regulating potential of mesenchymal stem cells

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) play an important role in the pathology of preeclampsia (PE). Our previous microarray analysis found that microRNA-494 (miR-494) is highly expressed in decidua-derived MSCs (dMSCs) from PE. We hypothesized that aberrant expression of miR-494 in dMSCs is involved in PE development. In the present study, we found that miR-494 arrests G1/S transition in dMSCs by targeting CDK6 and CCND1. We also found that supernatant from miR-494-overexpressing dMSCs reduces HTR-8/SVneo migration and impairs HUVEC capillary formation by suppressing VEGF. Taken together, we report an unrecognized mechanism of miR-494 affecting dMSC proliferation and function in the pathology of PE.