The role and miRNA expression profile of exosomes in hypertension remain largely unknown. Therefore, next-generation sequencing was used to define the miRNA expression profile of plasma exosomes in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs), the most widely used animal model of human essential hypertension, and their controls, normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKYs). Results revealed that percentages of miRNA in the total small RNA isolated from SHRs and WKYs were not significantly different. Twenty-seven miRNAs were significantly differentially expressed (DE) between SHR and WKY exosomes, including 23 up-regulated and four down-regulated in SHR exosomes as compared to WKY exosomes. Gene Ontology analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis of top 10 DE miRNAs identified hypertension-specific target genes/signaling pathways. In conclusion, our findings indicated the selective packing of miRNA cargo into exosomes under hypertensive status, which could facilitate the development of potential targets for the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of hypertension.
Keywords: Exosomes; Hypertension; miRNA.