Objective To investigate the effect and mechanism of miRNA-21-5p on the proliferation and migration of gestational trophoblast cells.Methods MiRNA-21-5p and Special AT-rich binding protein 1(SATB1)expressions in the placental tissues of preeclampsia(PE)patients and normal pregnant women were detected by RT-qPCR.Cell viability and proliferation were detected by CCK-8 and EDU assays.Cell migration was detected by transwell assays.MMP2,MMP9 and SATB1 expressions were detected by RT-qPCR and western blot.The binding of miRNA-21-5p to SATB1 was predicted and verified by Targetscan database and dual luciferase reporter assay.Results Compared with the control group,miRNA-21-5p expression in placental tissues of PE patients was significantly increased,and SATB1 expression was significantly decreased(P<0.05).Cell viability and proliferation were increased after miRNA-21-5p interference(P<0.001),cell migration and MMP2 and MMP9 expressions were increased(P<0.001).MiRNA-21-5p could bind to SATB1 and negatively modulated SATB1 expression(P<0.001).SATB1 interference reduced the effects of miRNA-21-5p knockdown on promoting cell proliferation and migration(P<0.05).Conclusion MiRNA-21-5p interference promoted gestational trophoblast cell proliferation and migration by targeting and up-regulating SATB1.