Levels of microRNA-181b and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 are associated with hypertensive disorders complicating pregnancy

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to explore the association between the expression of microRNA (miRNA)‑181b and plasminogen activator inhibitor‑1 (PAI‑1) in the placental tissue of pregnant females with a hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy (HDCP). Placental tissue samples were obtained from 48 patients with HDCP and 40 females with a normal pregnancy. The levels of miRNA‑181b and PAI‑1 mRNA were determined by the reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‑qPCR). The expression of PAI‑1 protein was analyzed by western blotting. Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) were transfected with the pEGP‑miRNA‑181b plasmid using Lipofectamine® 2000. Transfection efficiency was confirmed by immunohistochemical analysis. The levels of miRNA‑181b in the placental tissue of patients with HDCP were lower than those in the control group, whereas the levels of PAI‑1 mRNA in the placental tissue of patients with HDCP were higher than those in the control group. The expression of the PAI‑1 protein in the HDCP group was higher than that in the control group. Following transfection of VSMCs with plasmid pGCMV/EGFP/miRNA‑181b, the levels of PAI‑1 mRNA were reduced while the levels of miRNA‑181 were upregulated. Furthermore, the expression levels of PAI‑1 protein were lower than those in the control group. The levels of miRNA‑181b and PAI‑1 mRNA were strongly associated with HDCP. Thus, miRNA‑181b may play an important role in the regulation of PAI‑1. PAI‑1 and miRNA‑181b may be novel biomarkers to be used in HDCP therapy.