MiRNA-203a-3p inhibits inflammatory response in preeclampsia through regulating IL24

This study aims to investigate the protective role of miRNA-203a-3p in preeclampsia (PE) patients via inhibiting the inflammatory key protein IL24.

Serum samples of 36 PE pregnant women and 30 normal pregnant volunteers hospitalized between 2015 and 2019 were collected to extract placental mononuclear cells and exosomes. Relative levels of microRNA-203a-3p and IL24 were examined by quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR). In addition, the interaction between microRNA-203a-3p and IL24 was analyzed through bioinformatics analysis and Luciferase reporting assay. Finally, the underlying molecular mechanisms were further explored via immunofluorescence and Western blotting.

Compared with normal pregnant volunteers, microRNA-203a-3p expression in serum exosomes and placental mononuclear cells of PE patients were dramatically reduced, while IL24 was conversely up-regulated, indicating a negative correlation between microRNA-203a-3p and IL24 levels. In addition, IL24, which was down-regulated in mononuclear macrophages overexpressing microRNA-203a-3p, was indicated as a target of microRNA-203a-3p. At the same time, microRNA-203a-3p was able to suppress the proliferation capacity of LPS-stimulated mononuclear macrophages, and it exerted anti-inflammatory effects via down-regulating IL24 in THP-1 cells.

MicroRNA-203a-3p plays an anti-inflammatory role in PE pregnant women by down-regulating IL24 level.