MicroRNA-126 suppresses the invasion of trophoblast-model JEG-3 cells by targeting LIN28A

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2021 Mar 19:545:132-137. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2021.01.077. Epub 2021 Feb 3.

Abstract

Inadequate trophoblast invasion and impaired trophoblast-induced vascular remodeling are features of preeclampsia. In this context, an angiogenesis-related microRNA, miR-126, is abnormally expressed in preeclampsia placentas, but its role in trophoblast development remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the roles of miR-126 in the proliferation, migration, and invasion processes of trophoblast cells using the human choriocarcinoma-derived JEG-3 cell line as a model. The mRNA expression profiling of JEG-3 cells with and without miR-126 overexpression, in combination with bioinformatics analysis, identified LIN28A as a putative target of miR-126. The results of real-time RT-PCR and luciferase assay were consistent with this idea. Overexpression of miR-126 in JEG-3 cells decreased the invasive ability of the cells without affecting proliferation or migration. The invasiveness of JEG-3 cells was significantly reduced to a similar extent by knockdown of LIN28A with siRNA and by miR-126-overexpression-induced downregulation of LIN28A, although the level of LIN28A protein was much lower in the siLIN28A-transfected cells. These results indicate that miR-126 suppresses JEG-3 cell invasion by targeting LIN28A, and suggest that miR-126-mediated downregulation of LIN28A might contribute to the onset/deterioration of preeclampsia.

Keywords: Invasion; LIN28A; MicroRNA-126; Placenta; Trophoblast.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement / genetics
  • Cell Proliferation / genetics
  • Down-Regulation
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques
  • Humans
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism
  • Placenta / metabolism
  • Pre-Eclampsia / genetics*
  • Pre-Eclampsia / metabolism
  • Pre-Eclampsia / pathology*
  • Pregnancy
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Trophoblasts / metabolism*
  • Trophoblasts / pathology*

Substances

  • Lin28A protein, human
  • MIRN126 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • RNA, Messenger
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • RNA-Binding Proteins