Age-dependent increase of oxidative stress regulates microRNA-29 family preserving cardiac health

Sci Rep. 2017 Dec 4;7(1):16839. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-16829-w.

Abstract

The short-lived turquoise killifish Nothobranchius furzeri (Nfu) is a valid model for aging studies. Here, we investigated its age-associated cardiac function. We observed oxidative stress accumulation and an engagement of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the aging heart. MiRNA-sequencing of 5 week (young), 12-21 week (adult) and 28-40 week (old) Nfu hearts revealed 23 up-regulated and 18 down-regulated miRNAs with age. MiR-29 family turned out as one of the most up-regulated miRNAs during aging. MiR-29 family increase induces a decrease of known targets like collagens and DNA methyl transferases (DNMTs) paralleled by 5´methyl-cytosine (5mC) level decrease. To further investigate miR-29 family role in the fish heart we generated a transgenic zebrafish model where miR-29 was knocked-down. In this model we found significant morphological and functional cardiac alterations and an impairment of oxygen dependent pathways by transcriptome analysis leading to hypoxic marker up-regulation. To get insights the possible hypoxic regulation of miR-29 family, we exposed human cardiac fibroblasts to 1% O2 levels. In hypoxic condition we found miR-29 down-modulation responsible for the accumulation of collagens and 5mC. Overall, our data suggest that miR-29 family up-regulation might represent an endogenous mechanism aimed at ameliorating the age-dependent cardiac damage leading to hypertrophy and fibrosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 5-Methylcytosine / metabolism
  • Aging*
  • Animals
  • Antagomirs / metabolism
  • Cell Hypoxia
  • Cell Line
  • Collagen / metabolism
  • DNA Methylation
  • Echocardiography
  • Fibroblasts / cytology
  • Fibroblasts / metabolism
  • Fishes / genetics
  • Heart / physiology*
  • Humans
  • MicroRNAs / antagonists & inhibitors
  • MicroRNAs / genetics
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism*
  • Myocardium / metabolism
  • Oxidative Stress*
  • Up-Regulation
  • Zebrafish

Substances

  • Antagomirs
  • MicroRNAs
  • 5-Methylcytosine
  • Collagen