Evaluation of microRNA (411, 377, and 154) Expression in the Plasma and Placenta of Women with Preeclampsia

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNA) are considered to be the regulators of the gene expression. They play an essential role in cell proliferation, apoptosis, and development. Change in their expression is associated with various pathologic disorders. Moreover, preeclampsia (PE) is a complex pregnancy-related disorder. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the rate of three miRNA expressions in the placenta and plasma of healthy individuals and pregnant women with preeclamptic. Methods: Plasma and placenta samples were collected from 10 women with preeclampsia during the first trimester and third trimester of the pregnancy, and 10 healthy pregnant women who referred to Medical Genetics Center, Shiraz, Iran. The miRNA expression was investigated in the samples by real-time reverse-transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis. Results: The expression profile of three miRNAs from the 14MC cluster was performed on 10 placenta and 40 plasma samples. Expression of miR-411 in normal and PE placenta was low; only significant differences were observed at 5% level between PE plasma and normal placenta. In addition, the expression of miR-377 was low in all samples. A high expression of miR-154 was observed in normal and PE placentas. A significant difference was detected between the placenta and PE plasma samples. Conclusions: Considering many factors affecting the amount and type of the expression of miRNAs, and based on the results of the present study, it seems miR-411, miR-377, and miR-154 are possibly appropriate candidates as novel biomarkers; however, further investigation is needed to confirm their suitability in the future studies.