miR-155 Promotes ox-LDL-Induced Autophagy in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells

Mediators Inflamm. 2017:2017:9174801. doi: 10.1155/2017/9174801. Epub 2017 Jun 4.

Abstract

As an evolutionarily conserved metabolic process, autophagy is involved in the process of atherosclerosis (AS). MicroRNA-155 (miR-155), a multifunctional miRNA, plays an important role in many physiological and pathological conditions, including AS and autophagy. However, the effect of miR-155 on the regulation of autophagy in endothelial cells has not been reported to date. Therefore, the objective of our study was to investigate the role of miR-155 in autophagy induced by oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Our results demonstrated that ox-LDL induced autophagy in HUVECs and increased the expression of miR-155 significantly. Overexpression of miR-155 improved autophagic activity, whereas low expression of miR-155 inhibited autophagic activity. Therefore, the data demonstrated that miR-155 has a modulating effect on the autophagy of vascular endothelial cells.

MeSH terms

  • Autophagy / drug effects*
  • Autophagy / genetics
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells
  • Humans
  • Lipoproteins, LDL / pharmacology*
  • Lysosomes / drug effects
  • Lysosomes / metabolism
  • MicroRNAs / genetics
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism*

Substances

  • Lipoproteins, LDL
  • MIRN155 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • oxidized low density lipoprotein