Integrated microarray analysis of key genes and a miRNA-mRNA regulatory network of early-onset preeclampsia

Early-onset preeclampsia (EOPE) is a serious threat to maternal and foetal health. The present study aimed to identify potential biomarkers and targets for the treatment of EOPE. Expression profiles of placenta from patients with EOPE and healthy controls (GSE103542, GSE74341 and GSE44711) were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Integrated analysis revealed 246 genes and 28 microRNAs (miRNAs) that were differentially expressed between patients with EOPE and healthy controls. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were primarily enriched in ‘biological processes’, such as ‘cell adhesion’, ‘female pregnancy’, ‘extracellular matrix organization’ and ‘response to hypoxia’. Significant pathways associated with DEGs primarily included ‘focal adhesion’, ‘ECM-receptor interaction’, ‘PI3K-Akt signaling’ and ‘ovarian steroidogenesis’. A Protein-Protein Interaction network of DEGs was constructed using the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins online database, and epidermal growth factor receptor, collagen α-1(I) chain, secreted phosphoprotein 1, leptin (LEP), collagen α-2(I) chain (COL1A2), plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (SERPINE1), Thy-1 membrane glycoprotein, bone morphogenetic protein 4, vascular cell adhesion protein 1 and matrix metallopeptidase 1 were identified as hub genes. The alterations of hsa-miR-937, hsa-miR-148b*, hsa-miR-3907, hsa-miR-367*, COL1A2, LEP and SERPINE1 in placenta were validated using our local samples. Our research showed that the expression of hsa-miR-937, hsa-miR-1486*, hsa-miR-3907, hsa-miR-367* and hub genes in the placenta were closely associated with the pathophysiology of EOPE. hsa-miR-937, hsa-miR-1486*, hsa-miR-3907, hsa-miR-367* and hub genes could serve as biomarkers for diagnosis and as potential targets for the treatment of EOPE.