Oxidized Low-density Lipoprotein (ox-LDL) Cholesterol Induces the Expression of miRNA-223 and L-type Calcium Channel Protein in Atrial Fibrillation

Sci Rep. 2016 Aug 4:6:30368. doi: 10.1038/srep30368.

Abstract

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained arrhythmia causing high morbidity and mortality. While changing of the cellular calcium homeostasis plays a critical role in AF, the L-type calcium channel α1c protein has suggested as an important regulator of reentrant spiral dynamics and is a major component of AF-related electrical remodeling. Our computational modeling predicted that miRNA-223 may regulate the CACNA1C gene which encodes the cardiac L-type calcium channel α1c subunit. We found that oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) cholesterol significantly up-regulates both the expression of miRNA-223 and L-type calcium channel protein. In contrast, knockdown of miRNA-223 reduced L-type calcium channel protein expression, while genetic knockdown of endogenous miRNA-223 dampened AF vulnerability. Transfection of miRNA-223 by adenovirus-mediated expression enhanced L-type calcium currents and promoted AF in mice while co-injection of a CACNA1C-specific miR-mimic counteracted the effect. Taken together, ox-LDL, as a known factor in AF-associated remodeling, positively regulates miRNA-223 transcription and L-type calcium channel protein expression. Our results implicate a new molecular mechanism for AF in which miRNA-223 can be used as an biomarker of AF rheumatic heart disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Retracted Publication

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Animals
  • Atrial Fibrillation / blood*
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Calcium Channels, L-Type / blood*
  • Calcium Channels, L-Type / genetics
  • Dogs
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Humans
  • Lipoproteins, LDL / blood*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • MicroRNAs / blood*
  • Middle Aged
  • Rheumatic Heart Disease / blood
  • Rheumatic Heart Disease / genetics
  • Up-Regulation
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • CACNA1C protein, human
  • CACNA1C protein, mouse
  • Calcium Channels, L-Type
  • Lipoproteins, LDL
  • MIRN223 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • oxidized low density lipoprotein