Correlation between long non-coding RNA-LOC391533 and inadequate placental spiral artery remodeling in patients with severe preeclampsia / 中华围产医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the correlation between long non-coding RNA (lncRNA)-LOC391533 and inadequate placental spiral artery remodeling in severe preeclampsia (sPE).Methods Thirty-six gravidas who were admitted to the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University with sPE from January 2016 to December 2016 were enrolled in sPE group.An equal number of healthy gravidas who experienced uneventful pregnancy and were of similar age (difference less than two years) and gestational age (difference less than one week) to those in the sPE group served as controls.Scanning electron microscopy was used to measure the luminal area and vessel wall thickness of placental spiral arteries for all gravidas.Levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and soluble VEGF receptor-1 (sVEGFR-1) in placenta tissues and maternal serum samples were detected by Western blot and ELISA.Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect the expression of LOC391533 at mRNA level in placenta tissues of the two groups.Independent two samples t-test,Mann-Whitney U test and Spearman correlation analysis were used for statistical analysis.Results (1) The average luminal area of spiral arteries of the sPE group was smaller than that of the control group [(130.1 22.3) vs (188.1 ±21.5) μ m2,t=10.888,P＜0.05],but the average thickness of spiral artery wall was thicker [(122.619.5) vs (98.9±2.5) μ m,t=-8.812,P＜0.05].(2) Compared with the control group,the sPE group showed increased sVEGFR-1 at protein level in both placenta tissues and serum samples [placenta0.2±0.0 vs 0.4±0.1,serum(15.6±2.4) vs (50.8±6.1) ng/L,t=-17.569 and-30.699,both P＜0.05],decreased VEGF at protein level in both placenta tissues and serum samples [placenta0.6 ± 0.1 vs 0.2±0.0,serum(40.8±3.2) vs (28.1 ±3.2) ng/L,t=18.013 and 16.200,both P＜0.05],and enhanced expression of LOC391533 at mRNA level in placenta tissues (1.00.2 vs 2.40.5,t=-14.799,P＜0.05).(3) Expression of LOC391533 at mRNA level in placenta tissues of the sPE group was positively correlated with spiral artery wall thickness and levels of sVEGFR-1 protein in placenta tissues and serum (r=0.683,0.759 and 0.857,all P＜0.05),and negatively correlated with luminal area and levels of VEGF protein in placenta tissues and serum (r=-0.702,-0.806 and-0.796,all P＜0.05).Conclusions Abnormal expression of VEGF and sVEGF-1 in placenta and serum of patients with sPE may be related to inadequate placental spiral artery remodeling.