Maternal microRNAs Linked To Birth Deficits Due To Prenatal Alcohol Exposure Are Dominant Modifiers of Gene Expression in Invasive Trophoblast Cells

However, the underlying molecular mechanisms are unclear. We previously found that PAE in some, but not all pregnancies, resulted in significantly elevated circulating levels of 11 microRNAs (HEamiRNAs) in the 2nd trimester.

This subgroup of PAE women experienced adverse infant birth outcomes due to PAE, Subsequently, these HEamiRNAs collectively but not individually, were found to inhibit a defined set of placental epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) genes and, inhibited invasiveness of placental trophoblast cells. Here we extend these findings by performing whole-transcriptome analysis to dissect the contribution of ethanol compared to HEamiRNAs in HTR-8/SVneo cells, a model for invasive, human extravillous trophoblasts.