LAUSR

Preeclampsia (PE) refers to a pregnancy‐specific disease that begins with the placenta. Differentially expressed microRNAs (miRs) are a feature of PE. This study tried to elicit the functional mechanism of miR‐515‐5p in trophoblast cell behaviors in PE. First, HTR‐8/SVneo cells were transfected with miR‐515‐5p mimic or miR‐515‐5p inhibitor. Then, relative expression levels of miR‐515‐5p and histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2) in HTR‐8/SVneo cells were determined by reverse transcription‐quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The potential binding site of miR‐515‐5p and HDAC2 was predicted on Targetscan and their binding relationship was verified via dual‐luciferase assay. Proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, and migration of HTR‐8/SVneo cells were assessed via cell counting kit‐8, flow cytometry, Transwell, and wound healing assays, respectively. Protein levels of Cleaved caspase‐3, Bcl‐2, and Bax were determined via Western blot. Overexpressed miR‐515‐5p impeded proliferation and stimulated apoptosis of HTR‐8/SVneo cells, and decreased levels of Cleaved caspase‐3 and Bax and elevated Bcl‐2, whilst opposite results were observed after miR‐515‐5p inhibition. miR‐515‐5p targeted HDAC2. Knockdown of HDAC2 annulled the promotional action of miR‐515‐5p inhibition on proliferative, invasive, and migratory abilities and its antiapoptotic action on HTR‐8/SVneo cells. In brief, miR‐515‐5p affected the proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, and migration of HTR‐8/SVneo cells by targeting HDAC2.