TLR3-induced placental miR-210 down-regulates the STAT6/interleukin-4 pathway

PLoS One. 2013 Jul 2;8(7):e67760. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0067760. Print 2013.

Abstract

Several clinical studies have reported increased placental miR-210 expression in women with PE compared to normotensive women, but whether miR-210 plays a role in the etiology of PE is unknown. We reported that activation of TLR3 produces the PE-like symptoms of hypertension, endothelial dysfunction, and proteinuria in mice only when pregnant, but whether TLR3 activation in pregnant mice and human cytotrophoblasts (CTBs) increases miR-210 and modulates its targets related to inflammation are unknown. Placental miR-210 levels were increased significantly in pregnant mice treated with the TLR3 agonist poly I:C (P-PIC). Both HIF-1α and NF-κBp50, known to bind the miR-210 promoter and induce its expression, were also increased significantly in placentas of P-PIC mice. Target identification algorithms and gene ontology predicted STAT6 as an inflammation-related target of miR-210 and STAT6 was decreased significantly in placentas of P-PIC mice. IL-4, which is regulated by STAT6 and increases during normotensive pregnancy, failed to increase in serum of P-PIC mice. P-PIC TLR3 KO mice did not develop hypertension and placental HIF-1α, NF-κBp50, miR-210, STAT6, and IL-4 levels were unchanged. To determine the placental etiology, treatment of human CTBs with poly I:C significantly increased HIF-1α, NF-κBp50, and miR-210 levels and decreased STAT6 and IL-4 levels. Overexpression of miR-210 in CTBs decreased STAT6 and IL-4 while inhibition of miR-210 increased STAT6 and IL-4. These findings demonstrate that TLR3 activation induces placental miR-210 via HIF-1α and NF-κBp50 leading to decreased STAT6 and IL-4 levels and this may contribute to the development of PE.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Humans
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / genetics
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / metabolism
  • Inflammation / genetics
  • Inflammation / metabolism
  • Inflammation / pathology
  • Interleukin-4 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Interleukin-4 / genetics*
  • Interleukin-4 / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • MicroRNAs / agonists
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism
  • NF-kappa B p50 Subunit / genetics
  • NF-kappa B p50 Subunit / metabolism
  • Poly I-C / pharmacology
  • Pre-Eclampsia / genetics*
  • Pre-Eclampsia / metabolism
  • Pre-Eclampsia / pathology
  • Pregnancy
  • STAT6 Transcription Factor / antagonists & inhibitors
  • STAT6 Transcription Factor / genetics*
  • STAT6 Transcription Factor / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • Toll-Like Receptor 3 / agonists
  • Toll-Like Receptor 3 / deficiency
  • Toll-Like Receptor 3 / genetics*
  • Trophoblasts / cytology
  • Trophoblasts / drug effects
  • Trophoblasts / metabolism

Substances

  • HIF1A protein, human
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit
  • MIRN210 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • NF-kappa B p50 Subunit
  • STAT6 Transcription Factor
  • STAT6 protein, human
  • TLR3 protein, human
  • Toll-Like Receptor 3
  • Interleukin-4
  • Poly I-C

Grants and funding

This was was supported by Scientist Development Grant (13SDG14630018) from American Heart Association to PC and Scott and White Memorial Hospital Research Development Grant to BMM and PC. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.