A clinical and in-silico study exploring the association of CASP-3, NF-kB, miR-187, and miR-146 in pre-eclampsia

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Apoptosis is involved in pathogenesis of Pre-eclampsia (PE), further research is needed to determine its molecular mechanism.

Methods

The study recruited two groups (controls; 09, PE; 11). Biochemical tests, RT-PCR and ELISA were employed for analysis of genes and MicroRNAs (miRNA). Bioinformatics tools were employed for interactomics analysis.

Results

There was increased apoptosis in maternal placental tissue (MPT) and Maternal Blood Cells (MBC) as demonstrated by expression of CASP3 and NF-κB1. miR-146-5p and 187-5p were downregulated in MBC and MPT but upregulated in fetal placental tissue (FPT)..

Discussion

An increased apoptosis in MBC and MPT is a significant contributory factor for PE in pregnancy, while FPT is immune to the aforementioned effects.

Graphical abstract

KEYWORDS:

• miR-187
• miR-146
• Caspase-3
• NF‐κB1
• apoptosis

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Limitation of study

The main limitation of the current study was the small sample size.

Author contribution

Dr Charu Sharma: I declare that I participated in the study in conceptualisation, data collection, writing and editing the manuscript and that I have seen and approved the final version. I have no conflicts of interest.

Dr Purvi Purohit: I declare that I participated in the study in conceptualization, sample collection, molecular analysis and statistical analysis, writing and editing the manuscript and that I have seen and approved the final version. I have no conflicts of interest.

Dr Manoj Khokhar: I declare that I participated in the study in analysis of data, writing and editing the manuscript and that I have seen and approved the final version. I have no conflicts of interest.

Dr Pratibha Singh: I declare that I participated in the study in conceptualisation, data collection, clinical care, editing and reviewing the manuscript and that I have seen and approved the final version. I have no conflicts of interest.

Dr Shashank Shekhar: I declare that I participated in the study in data collection, clinical care of patients, editing and reviewing the manuscript and that I have seen and approved the final version. I have no conflicts of interest.

Dr Shailja Sharma: I declare that I participated in the study in sample analysis, laboratory analysis, editing and reviewing the manuscript and that I have seen and approved the final version. I have no conflicts of interest.

Dr Meenakshi Gothwal: I declare that I participated in the study in data collection, clinical care, editing and reviewing the manuscript and that I have seen and approved the final version. I have no conflicts of interest.

Dr Praveen Sharma: I declare that I participated in the study in conceptualization, editing and reviewing the manuscript, and that I have seen and approved the final version. I have no conflicts of interest.

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed here.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur as Intramural Project [grant number AIIMS/RES/2018/1917].