MiR-140-5p exerts a protective function in pregnancy-induced hypertension via mediating TGF-ß/Smad signaling pathway.

Animal experiments showed that PIH rats had increased mean arterial pressure (MAP), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), but decreased litter size, number of viable fetuses, fetal weight, and placental weight. The higher Flt-1 and lower VEGF was observed in PIH rats with elevated TNF-α and IL-6 levels and decreased IL-10 levels. Treatment with agomiR-140-5p improved regarding the above indicators. Cell experiments demonstrated that miR-140-5p mimic increased cell invasion and migration abilities and decreased the activity of TGF-ß/Smad pathway, while TGFBR1 can reverse the role of miR-140-5p mimic in trophoblasts.

The diagnostic value and regulatory mechanism of miR-200a targeting ZEB1 in pregnancy-induced hypertension.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the diagnostic value and regulatory mechanism of miR-200a targeting ZEB1 in pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH). METHODS: The expression of miR-200a and ZEB1 was detected in the placenta of PIH patients, and then the human trophoblastic cell line JEG-3 was transfected and divided into different groups: control group, NC group, ZEB1 siRNA group, miR-200a inhibitor group and miR-200a inhibitor group + ZEB1 siRNA group. After transfection, cell proliferation and migration/invasion were evaluated byMTT and Transwell assays, respectively, whereas apoptosis was assessed byflow cytometry. MiR-200a was measured by qRT-PCR, while ZEB1 was detectedby Western blotting. RESULTS: The expression of miR-200a was gradually increased in the placenta of patients with hypertension and mild or severe preeclampsia, while the mRNA and protein levels of ZEB1 were downregulated. A dual-luciferase reporter assay was performed to confirm the targeting relationship between miR-200a andZEB1.Compared to the control, the miR-200a inhibitor caused a strongdecrease in miR-200a andan upregulation of ZEB1, with a significant enhancement ofcell proliferation, migration and invasion and a decrease in apoptosis. However, no significant alteration was observedin the miR-200a level after administration of ZEB1 siRNA, while ZEB1 was downregulated, with significant suppression of growth. CONCLUSION: MiR-200a was upregulated in PIH patients, andinhibition of miR-200a may improve disease progression, as it could facilitatetrophoblastproliferation, migration and invasionandinhibitapoptosisby targeting ZEB1.

Comparison of visual quality after implantation of A1-UV and SN60WF aspheric intraocular lens.

AIM: To compare the visual performance of pseudophakic eyes implanted with A1-UV and SN60WF aspheric intraocular lens (IOL), and to investigate the correlations between visual quality parameters and pupil size. METHODS: This prospective comparative study included 105 eyes of 90 patients with age-related cataract who underwent uneventful phacoemulsification. The subjects were divided into two groups according to the implanted IOL type. Three months postoperatively, visual acuity and contrast sensitivity were measured, wave-front aberrations were assessed using a KR-1W aberrometer (Topcon), and objective optical quality parameters were performed using an optical quality analysis system-OQAS II (Visiometrics). Independent sample t-test and Spearman correlation analysis were used for data analysis. RESULTS: There were no significant differences found in visual acuity, contrast sensitivity and visual quality parameters between the two groups (P>0.05). The measured intraocular spherical aberration (SA) in A1-UV IOL eyes of -0.19±0.05 µm was close to the designed SA value of -0.20 µm. The modulation transfer function cutoff, Strehl ratio and OQAS values were negatively correlated with pupil size in both groups (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The subjective and objective visual quality in pseudophakic eyes with A1-UV and SN60WF IOLs are comparable. For aspheric IOL eyes, visual quality decreases with increasing pupil size.