MicroRNA analysis in placentas from patients with preeclampsia: comparison of new and published results.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to identify differences in microRNA expression between patients with and without preeclampsia. METHODS: Microarray-based study was carried out with placental samples. RESULTS: Comparison of eight previous studies with the current study revealed a total of 138 microRNAs; only 20/138 (14%), however, were seen in more than one study and the results agreed in the direction of change. Bioinformatic analysis of these 20 microRNAs identified a wide range of biological functions including apoptosis and cell movement for their mRNA targets. CONCLUSION: The associations between miRNA expression and preeclampsia suggest a potential role for microRNAs in preeclampsia pathobiology.