miR21 modulates the Hippo signaling pathway via interference with PP2A Bf3 to inhibit trophoblast invasion and cause preeclampsia

Preeclampsia (PE) is a pregnancy-specific disorder attributed to deficient extravillous trophoblast (EVT) invasion into the uterus, but the mechanism of EVT invasion remains unclear. In this study, we found significantly elevated expression of microRNA 21 (miR21), which negatively regulates tropho-blast invasion and migration, in preeclamptic placentae. Whole-genome RNA sequencing revealed that PPP2R2B, which encodes PP2A BO, and the Hippo pathway are down-stream targets of miR21. The effects of miR21 on trophoblast mobility were abolished in LATS1T1079A/S909A and YAP-5SA mutants. Moreover, we found that PP2A BO dephosphory-lates LATS1 via direct protein-protein interactions and thus modulates the phosphorylation and subcellular distribution of YAP. PPP2R2B overexpression ameliorated the miR21-induced LATS1-YAP phosphorylation and cytoplasmic sequestration of YAP, which resulted in the rescue of compromised trophoblast invasion and migration. The upre-gulation of placental miR21 abundance by placenta-specific nanoparticles loaded with agomir-miR21 during placentation interfered with PPP2R2B and activated the Hippo pathway in the placenta, leading to a PE-like phenotype. Thus, aberrant elevation of miR21 impairs EVT mobility by modulating the PP2A BO/Hippo axis, which is one of the causes of PE.

Automated summary

In this study, elevated expression of miR21 in preeclamptic placentae was found to negatively regulate tropho-blast invasion and migration by modulating the PP2A BO/Hippo axis, offering insights into the mechanisms underlying preeclampsia.