Placenta-specific miRNA-519c Mediates Immune Tolerance in Human Placenta Following Repeated Bacterial Exposure

BACKGROUND: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, noncoding RNA molecules that regulate target gene expression and play an important role in the maintenance of healthy pregnancies. Adaptation to inflammatory stimulation may be critical in preventing rejection of the fetus by the maternal immune system and protecting the fetus from excessive maternal inflammatory responses to infectious agents. Previously, our lab has shown that placental explants demonstrate tolerance to repeated gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial toxins, as illustrated by decreased expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. However, to date, the exact mechanism(s) that contribute to placental immune tolerance are not completely understood. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we investigate the role of miR-519c, a …