Abstract | INTRODUCTION: MicroRNA-208a (miR-208a) exacerbated cardiomyocyte apoptosis via inhibiting nemo-like kinase (NLK). miR-208a is a crucial molecule in the regulation of heart diseases, however, the biological function and underlying mechanism of miR-208a in the progression of cardiomyocyte apoptosis is not clearly elucidated. We hypothesized that miR-208a might potentiate cardiomyocyte apoptosis through inhibiting NLK. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were underwent permanent coronary artery ligation to establish myocardial infarction (MI) model. The quantitative real-time RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to evaluate the expression of miR-208a and NLK mRNA. Western blot was applied to detect NLK and Bcl-2 proteins expression. Luciferase reporter assay was performed to indentify NLK as a target of miR-208a. The apoptosis of H9C2 cells was assessed by flow cytometry (FCM). RESULTS: miR-208a was upregulated accompanying with a significant decrease of NLK in response to MI, and stronger miR-208a staining was detected by in situ hybridization in the cytoplasm of cardiomyocytes in MI group compared to the sham group. In vitro, overexpression of miR-208a greatly enhance Ang II-induced the apoptosis of H9C2 cells through downregulating of NLK and the anti-apoptosis protein Bcl-2 expression, whereas these effects were reversed when miR-208a was downregulated. Dual luciferase reporter assay and western blot results demonstrated that NLK was a direct target of miR-208a. Interestingly, upregulation of NLK obviously increased Bcl-2 expression and reduced the percentage of apoptotic cells, while attenuation of NLK reduced the level of Bcl-2 and cells apoptosis after treatment with Ang II. CONCLUSIONS: miR-208a can promote Ang II-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis via negatively regulating NLK expression, and inhibition of miR-208a may provide a novel therapeutic target for cardiomyocyte apoptosis.
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Authors | Ying Huang, Yang Yang, Yong He, Cheng Huang, Xiaoming Meng, Jun Li |
Journal | Current pharmaceutical design
(Curr Pharm Des)
Vol. 22
Issue 31
Pg. 4868-4875
( 2016)
ISSN: 1873-4286 [Electronic] United Arab Emirates |
PMID | 26861724
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Chemical References |
- MIRN208 microRNA, rat
- MicroRNAs
- RNA, Messenger
- Angiotensin II
- NLK protein, rat
- Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
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Topics |
- Angiotensin II
(metabolism)
- Animals
- Apoptosis
(genetics)
- Cells, Cultured
- Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
- Male
- MicroRNAs
(genetics)
- Myoblasts, Cardiac
(cytology, enzymology, metabolism)
- Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
(biosynthesis, genetics, metabolism)
- RNA, Messenger
(genetics, metabolism)
- Rats
- Rats, Sprague-Dawley
- Structure-Activity Relationship
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