MicroRNA-122 promotes cardiomyocyte hypertrophy via targeting FoxO3

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2019 Nov 19;519(4):682-688. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2019.09.035. Epub 2019 Sep 19.

Abstract

Objective: -microRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as novel regulators for cardiac hypertrophy. MiR-122 is well recognized as a promising therapeutic target in liver disease, whereas recently plays important roles in cardiovascular diseases. The current study aimed to explore the effect of miR-122 on the pathogenesis of cardiomyocyte hypertrophy.

Methods and results: -The cardiomyocytes isolated from the neonatal rat ventricular cardiomyocytes (NRVMs) were collected and performed to Angiotensin II (Ang II) administration. We observed a dramatically increased miR-122 expression in hypertrophic cardiomyocytes. The NRVMs transfected with miR-122 mimic or negative control were utilized for the functional analysis. Overexpression of miR-122 increased the morphology size of cardiomyocytes and promoted the pro-hypertrophic genes expression, whereas downregulated the anti-hypertrophic genes upon Ang II stimulation. The bioinformatics analysis and luciferase reporter assays exhibited that miR-122 directly targeted FoxO3 and attenuated its gene level in hypertrophic cardiomyocytes. Moreover, miR-122 negatively regulated FoxO3 but promoted calcineurin signaling pathway activation. Importantly, FoxO3 overexpression significantly reversed the effect of miR-122 on cardiomyocyte hypertrophy.

Conclusion: -Collected, our finding demonstrated that miR-122 accelerated the development of cardiomyocytes hypertrophy partially via directly regulation of FoxO3-calcineurin pathway.

Keywords: Angiotensin II; Calcineurin; Cardiomyocytes; FoxO3; miR-122.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Angiotensin II / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Calcineurin / metabolism
  • Cardiomegaly / genetics*
  • Cardiomegaly / metabolism
  • Cardiomegaly / pathology
  • Cell Size / drug effects
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Forkhead Box Protein O3 / genetics*
  • Forkhead Box Protein O3 / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
  • Gene Expression Regulation / genetics*
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / cytology
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / drug effects
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / metabolism*
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Vasoconstrictor Agents / pharmacology

Substances

  • FOXO3 protein, rat
  • Forkhead Box Protein O3
  • MIRN122 microRNA, rat
  • MicroRNAs
  • Vasoconstrictor Agents
  • Angiotensin II
  • Calcineurin