Long non‑coding RNA NR_002794 is upregulated in pre‑eclampsia and regulates the proliferation, apoptosis and invasion of trophoblast cells

Pre‑eclampsia is a common complication during pregnancy, characterized by hypertension and proteinuria. The pathogenesis of pre‑eclampsia is not fully understood. Studies on the maternal spiral artery have led scientists to consider that the ineffective infiltration of placental trophoblast cells may be a primary cause of pre‑eclampsia. The present study aimed to investigate the differences in the profiles of long non‑coding RNAs (lncRNAs) between the placentas of patients with pre‑eclampsia and those of healthy pregnant women. The involvement of the differentially expressed lncRNAs in the biological activity of trophoblast cells was also assessed. A total of 26 differentially expressed lncRNAs were identified between the pre‑eclampsia and healthy groups. Upregulation of NR_002794 was found in tissues from patients with pre‑eclampsia. In SWAN71 trophoblast cells, NR_002794 had suppressive effects on proliferation and migration, and resulted in an increased rate of apoptosis. Furthermore, lncRNA NR_002794 had no effect on the phagocytosis of trophoblast cells. The present study suggested that abnormal levels of NR_002794 may lead to atypical conditions in trophoblast cells, which may be associated with the failure of maternal spiral artery remodeling during pregnancy and, consequently, with the development of pre‑eclampsia.