| Summary: | Background: <i>FLT1</i> is one of the significantly overexpressed genes found in a pre-eclamptic placenta and is involved with the etiology of this disease. Methods: We conducted genome-wide expression profiling by RNA-seq of placentas from women with pre-eclampsia and those with normotensive pregnancy. Results: We identified a lncRNA gene, <i>MG828507</i>, located ~80 kb upstream of the <i>FLT1</i> gene in a head-to-head orientation, which was overexpressed in the pre-eclamptic placenta. <i>MG828507</i> and <i>FLT1</i> are located within the same topologically associated domain in the genome. The <i>MG828507</i> mRNA level correlated with that of the <i>FLT1</i> in placentas from pre-eclamptic women as well as in samples from uncomplicated pregnancies. However, neither the overexpression nor knockdown of <i>MG828507</i> affected the expression of <i>FLT1</i>. Analysis of pre-eclampsia-linking genetic variants at this locus suggested that the placental genotype of one variant was associated with the expression of <i>MG828507</i>. The <i>MG828507</i> transcript level was not found to be associated with maternal blood pressure, but showed a relationship with birth and placental weights, suggesting that this lncRNA might be one of the pivotal placental factors in pre-eclampsia. Conclusion: Further characterization of the <i>MG828507</i> gene may elucidate the etiological roles of the <i>MG828507</i> and <i>FLT1</i> genes in pre-eclampsia in a genomic context.
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