Abstract: Objective：To investigate the effect of pre-eclapmsia related miR-18a on the expression of matrix metallopeptidase 2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9 in human normal trophoblast cells (HTR-8). Methods：According to the expression of miR-18a in HTR-8 cells, it was divided into 3 groups (5 times in each group): miR-18a overexpression group, miR-18a inhibition group, negative control group. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to detect the expression of miR-18a mRNA in HTR-8 cells after transfection. The mRNA and protein levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in HTR-8 cells were detected by RT-qPCR and Western blotting after transfection. Results：The expression of miR-18a mRNA in miR-18a overexpression group was higher than that in negative control group (P＜0.001). The expression of miR-18a mRNA in miR-18a inhibition group was lower than that in negative control group (P＜0.001). The expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 mRNA and protein in the miR-18a inhibition group was lower than that in the negative control group, and the difference was statistically significant (both P＜0.001). Conclusions：MiR-18a could affect the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in human normal trophoblast cells at mRNA and protein levels, and may be involved in the regulation of trophoblast infiltration through this pathway.

Key words: MicroRNAs, Pre-eclampsia, Matrix metalloproteinase 2, Matrix metalloproteinase 9, Trophoblastic cell