New Study Involving Laboratory Team Published in Placenta Journal in January 2024
The article "MicroRNA miR-27a as a possible regulator of anti-inflammatory macrophage phenotype in preeclamptic placenta" identified a potential therapeutic target for treating preeclampsia.
Preeclampsia, a potentially life-threatening pregnancy complication, affects millions of women worldwide. Understanding the mechanisms underlying this condition is crucial for developing effective treatments. In a collaborative study, scientists from HSE University, the National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Perinatology named after Academician V.I. Kulakov, Peoples' Friendship University of Russia, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, and the Russian Scientific Center for Surgery named after Academician B.V. Petrovsky obtained new data on a potential therapeutic target for managing preeclampsia.
The study focused on investigating the role of the TGFβ signaling pathway in the development of both early- and late-onset preeclampsia. Although TGFβ is known for its effects on anti-inflammatory macrophage polarization, its exact involvement in preeclampsia development has remained unclear. Using advanced methods such as immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, and microRNA sequencing, researchers examined placental tissue from patients with preeclampsia and normal pregnancies, as well as trophoblast cells. The observations made in this study provide new insights into the pathogenesis of preeclampsia.
Key findings from the study include:
- A significant decrease in the anti-inflammatory macrophage marker CD206 in patients with late preeclampsia.
- Reduced production of CD206 protein in both early- and late-onset preeclampsia groups.
- Decreased expression of the TGFβ receptor 2 (TGFBR2) in the preeclampsia group.
- Identification of a potential regulatory role for hsa-miR-27a in the TGFβ signaling pathway.
- Increased levels of hsa-miR-27a-5p and hsa-miR-27a-3p in trophoblast cells under severe hypoxia conditions.
Evgeny Knyazev, Head of the Laboratory of Molecular Physiology at HSE University, commented: "Our results not only deepen our understanding of the mechanisms underlying preeclampsia but also reveal a promising therapeutic target for treating this condition. The discovery of the potential regulatory role of hsa-miR-27a in the TGFβ signaling pathway opens up new avenues for developing personalized therapies."