PCYT1B-Targeting miRNAs as Potential Biomarkers for Placental Diseases

Obstetrical diseases are complications associated with pregnancy or childbirth that can cause maternal sequelae and fetal complications. Among them, preeclampsia (PE) and preterm labor (PTL) are major causes of premature birth and are associated with an increased risk of cerebral palsy, developmental delay, and hearing impairment in infants. However, reliable diagnostic markers and therapeutic strategies for obstetrical diseases remain limited. The aim of this study was to investigate genes associated with obstetrical diseases and to evaluate the correlation between phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase 1 beta (PCYT1B) and miRNAs targeting PCYT1B for diagnostic analysis in PE and PTL. Using miRNA array analysis and luciferase assays, we identified PCYT1B, a key enzyme involved in phosphocholine metabolism in reproductive tissues, together with several candidate miRNAs targeting PCYT1B, including miR-3065-3p, miR-4660, miR-6752-5p, miR-6842-5p and miR-7110-5p. qRT-PCR analysis revealed a significant correlation between PCYT1B and these miRNAs in placental tissues from patients with PE and PTL (p < 0.05). Immunofluorescence staining further demonstrated that PCYT1B was localized in the syncytiotrophoblast layer of placental tissues, and its protein expression was consistent with mRNA expression levels. To investigate the functional role of these miRNAs, trophoblast cells were treated with miRNA mimics and inhibitors. These treatments significantly altered trophoblast invasion capacity and regulated the expression of migration-related genes, including RhoA, Rac1 and ROCK. Collectively, our findings suggest that miRNAs targeting PCYT1B may regulate trophoblast function and may play a key role in placental development and obstetrical diseases. These results indicate that PCYT1B and its regulatory miRNAs could serve as potential biomarkers for PE and PTL and may provide insights into the development of miRNA-based diagnostic strategies.