miR-142-3p is abnormally increased in the placentas of women with preeclampsia, while the RDH13 gene is decreased in them. The study used bioinformatics on publicly available data (GSE25906 and GSE10588), WGCNA and machine learning to identify RDH13 as a target gene of miR-142-3p. In HTR-8/Svneo trophoblast cells, miR-142-3p increased apoptosis and decreased invasion, migration, and proliferation, while RDH13 had the opposite effects. Rescue experiments confirmed that miR-142-3p suppresses RDH13, thereby disrupting trophoblast functions. This effect is mediated by the regulation of CDH5, LFA-1 and L-SELECTIN genes via RDH13. Bioinformatics identified HEXB and RDH13 as potential early biomarkers of preeclampsia. The study suggests miR-142-3p as a new diagnostic and therapeutic target in preeclampsia.