miR-144 may regulate the proliferation, migration and invasion of trophoblastic cells through targeting PTEN in preeclampsia

Previous studies indicated that microRNAs (miRNAs) were aberrantly expressed in the placentas of patients with Preeclampsia (PE); however, the underlying mechanism still requires further investigation. The aim of this study is to investigate the roles of miR-144 in preeclampsia and the related mechanism. The expression of miR-144 and PTEN in 30 placentas of patients with PE and 30 normal placentas was compared; next, HTR8/SVneo cells were transfected with miR-144 mimics and miR-144 inhibitors and cultured for 48 h, and the proliferation and apoptosis, cell migration and invasion of the cells were examined; furthermore, the expression PTEN, Caspase-3 and Bcl-2 was examined; next, dual luciferase reporter assay has been performed to confirm that PTEN is a direct target of miR-144; finally, HTR-8/SVneo cells were transfected with either PTEN overexpression plasmid or PTEN RNAi to determine whether knockdown or overexpression of PTEN can mimic the effect of miR-144 We have observed that the expression of miR-144 was significantly decreased and the expression of PTEN was markedly increased in placentas of patients with PE compared with normal placentas; moreover, transfection of miR-144 mimics in trophoblastic cells induced significant increase in cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and decrease in cell apoptosis, and also affected the cell cycles; on the other hand, transfection of miR-144 inhibitors has shown the opposite effects; furthermore, transient overexpression of miR-144 induced marked decrease in the expression of PTEN, Caspase-3 and increase in expression of Bcl-2 (P < 0.01), while transfection of miR-144 inhibitors showed the opposite effects; finally, PTEN has been confirmed as a direct target of miR-144; finally, transfection of PTEN overexpression plasmid or PTEN RNAi can mimic the results of miR-144 inhibitor or miR-144 mimics, respectively. In conclusion, miR-144 was down-regulated in PE, and miR-144 may play important roles in the pathogenesis of PE through targeting PTEN in trophoblastic cells. These results suggested that miR-144 has the potential to become a therapeutic target for the treatment of PE.