MicroRNA-663 prevents monocrotaline-induced pulmonary arterial hypertension by targeting TGF-β1/smad2/3 signaling

J Mol Cell Cardiol. 2021 Dec:161:9-22. doi: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2021.07.010. Epub 2021 Jul 31.

Abstract

Objective: Pulmonary vascular remodeling due to excessive growth factor production and pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) proliferation is the hallmark feature of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Recent studies suggest that miR-663 is a potent modulator for tumorigenesis and atherosclerosis. However, whether miR-663 involves in pulmonary vascular remodeling is still unclear.

Methods and results: By using quantitative RT-PCR, we found that miR-663 was highly expressed in normal human PASMCs. In contrast, circulating level of miR-663 dramatically reduced in PAH patients. In addition, in situ hybridization showed that expression of miR-663 was decreased in pulmonary vasculature of PAH patients. Furthermore, MTT and cell scratch-wound assay showed that transfection of miR-663 mimics significantly inhibited platelet derived growth factor (PDGF)-induced PASMCs proliferation and migration, while knockdown of miR-663 expression enhanced these effects. Mechanistically, dual-luciferase reporter assay revealed that miR-663 directly targets the 3'UTR of TGF-β1. Moreover, western blots and ELISA results showed that miR-663 decreased PDGF-induced TGF-β1 expression and secretion, which in turn suppressed the downstream smad2/3 phosphorylation and collagen I expression. Finally, intratracheal instillation of adeno-miR-663 efficiently inhibited the development of pulmonary vascular remodeling and right ventricular hypertrophy in monocrotaline (MCT)-induced PAH rat models.

Conclusion: These results indicate that miR-663 is a potential biomarker for PAH. MiR-663 decreases PDGF-BB-induced PASMCs proliferation and prevents pulmonary vascular remodeling and right ventricular hypertrophy in MCT-PAH by targeting TGF-β1/smad2/3 signaling. These findings suggest that miR-663 may represent as an attractive approach for the diagnosis and treatment for PAH.

Keywords: Pulmonary arterial hypertension; Pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell; Pulmonary vascular remodeling; TGF-β1; miR-663.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Animals
  • Becaplermin / pharmacology
  • Cell Movement / drug effects
  • Cell Movement / genetics
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cell Proliferation / genetics
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • MicroRNAs / blood*
  • MicroRNAs / genetics
  • Middle Aged
  • Monocrotaline / toxicity
  • Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / cytology
  • Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / drug effects
  • Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension / chemically induced
  • Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension / genetics*
  • Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension / metabolism
  • Pulmonary Artery / cytology
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Smad2 Protein / metabolism
  • Smad3 Protein / metabolism
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / genetics
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / metabolism*
  • Vascular Remodeling / drug effects
  • Vascular Remodeling / genetics*

Substances

  • MIRN663 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • SMAD2 protein, human
  • SMAD3 protein, human
  • Smad2 Protein
  • Smad3 Protein
  • TGFB1 protein, human
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1
  • Becaplermin
  • Monocrotaline