miR-138 promotes migration and tube formation of human cytomegalovirus-infected endothelial cells through the SIRT1/p-STAT3 pathway

Arch Virol. 2017 Sep;162(9):2695-2704. doi: 10.1007/s00705-017-3423-0. Epub 2017 Jun 3.

Abstract

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) has been reported to be linked to vascular disease through the induction of neovessel formation. We have previously reported that microRNA (miR)-217 and miR-199a-5p enhance endothelial angiogenesis via inhibition of sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) in HCMV-infected human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Here, we found that miR-138 also suppressed the expression of the SIRT1 protein and stimulated phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (p-STAT3). Moreover, the regulation of p-STAT3 expression mediated by SIRT1 was found to promote HCMV-induced angiogenesis. These findings revealed that miR-138 might promote angiogenesis of HCMV-infected HUVECs by activating the SIRT1-mediated p-STAT3 pathway, and this could provide novel insights into HCMV-induced angiogenesis.

MeSH terms

  • Cell Movement
  • Cytomegalovirus / physiology*
  • Down-Regulation
  • Endothelial Cells / physiology*
  • Endothelial Cells / virology
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells
  • Humans
  • MicroRNAs / genetics
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism*
  • Neovascularization, Physiologic / physiology*
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor / genetics
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor / metabolism*
  • Sirtuin 1 / genetics
  • Sirtuin 1 / metabolism*
  • Up-Regulation

Substances

  • MIRN138 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor
  • STAT3 protein, human
  • SIRT1 protein, human
  • Sirtuin 1