miR-200a-3p inhibits the PDGF-BB-induced proliferation of VSMCs by affecting their phenotype-associated proteins

J Biochem Mol Toxicol. 2024 Apr;38(4):e23675. doi: 10.1002/jbt.23675.

Abstract

Accumulating evidence shows that the abnormal proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) can significantly affect the long-term prognosis of coronary artery bypass grafting. This study aimed to explore the factors affecting the proliferation, migration, and phenotypic transformation of VSMCs. First, we stimulated VSMCs with different platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) concentrations, analyzed the expression of phenotype-associated proteins by Western blotting, and examined cell proliferation by scratch wound healing and the 5-ethynyl-2-deoxyuridine (EdU) assay. VSMC proliferation was induced most by PDGF-BB treatment at 20 ng/mL. miR-200a-3p decreased significantly in A7r5 cells stimulated with PDGF-BB. The overexpression of miR-200a-3p reversed the downregulation of α-SMA (p < 0.001) and the upregulation of vimentin (p < 0.001) caused by PDGF-BB. CCK8 and EdU analyses showed that miR-200a-3p overexpression could inhibit PDGF-BB-induced cell proliferation (p < 0.001). However, flow cytometric analysis showed that it did not significantly increase cell apoptosis. Collectively, the overexpression of miR-200a-3p inhibited the proliferation and migration of VSMCs induced by PDGF-BB, partly by affecting phenotypic transformation-related proteins, providing a new strategy for relieving the restenosis of vein grafts.

Keywords: 14-3-3γ; VSMCs; phenotype-associated proteins; proliferation; vein graft failure.

MeSH terms

  • Becaplermin / pharmacology
  • Cell Movement
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cells, Cultured
  • MicroRNAs* / genetics
  • Muscle, Smooth, Vascular*
  • Myocytes, Smooth Muscle
  • Phenotype

Substances

  • Becaplermin
  • MicroRNAs