RESUMEN
MicroRNAs (miRs) regulate gene expression at the posttranscriptional level and play crucial roles in vascular integrity. As such, they may have a role in modifying abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) expansion, the pathophysiological mechanisms of which remain incompletely explored. Here, we investigate the role of miRs in 2 murine models of experimental AAA: the porcine pancreatic elastase (PPE) infusion model in C57BL/6 mice and the AngII infusion model in Apoe-/- mice. AAA development was accompanied by decreased aortic expression of miR-29b, along with increased expression of known miR-29b targets, Col1a1, Col3a1, Col5a1, and Eln, in both models. In vivo administration of locked nucleic acid anti-miR-29b greatly increased collagen expression, leading to an early fibrotic response in the abdominal aortic wall and resulting in a significant reduction in AAA progression over time in both models. In contrast, overexpression of miR-29b using a lentiviral vector led to augmented AAA expansion and significant increase of aortic rupture rate. Cell culture studies identified aortic fibroblasts as the likely vascular cell type mediating the profibrotic effects of miR-29b modulation. A similar pattern of reduced miR-29b expression and increased target gene expression was observed in human AAA tissue samples compared with that in organ donor controls. These data suggest that therapeutic manipulation of miR-29b and its target genes holds promise for limiting AAA disease progression and protecting from rupture.
Asunto(s)
Aneurisma Roto/prevención & control , Aneurisma de la Aorta Abdominal/terapia , MicroARNs/antagonistas & inhibidores , MicroARNs/metabolismo , Adolescente , Anciano , Angiotensina II/metabolismo , Angiotensina II/farmacología , Animales , Aneurisma de la Aorta Abdominal/inducido químicamente , Aneurisma de la Aorta Abdominal/genética , Aneurisma de la Aorta Abdominal/patología , Apolipoproteínas E/genética , Apolipoproteínas E/metabolismo , Colágeno/genética , Colágeno/metabolismo , Modelos Animales de Enfermedad , Progresión de la Enfermedad , Elastina/genética , Elastina/metabolismo , Expresión Génica , Humanos , Masculino , Ratones , Ratones Endogámicos C57BL , Ratones Noqueados , MicroARNs/genética , Persona de Mediana Edad , Elastasa Pancreática/metabolismo , Elastasa Pancreática/farmacología , Isoformas de Proteínas/genética , Isoformas de Proteínas/metabolismo , Porcinos , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
Identification and treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) remains among the most prominent challenges in vascular medicine. MicroRNAs are crucial regulators of cardiovascular pathology and represent possible targets for the inhibition of AAA expansion. We identified microRNA-21 (miR-21) as a key modulator of proliferation and apoptosis of vascular wall smooth muscle cells during development of AAA in two established murine models. In both models (AAA induced by porcine pancreatic elastase or infusion of angiotensin II), miR-21 expression increased as AAA developed. Lentiviral overexpression of miR-21 induced cell proliferation and decreased apoptosis in the aortic wall, with protective effects on aneurysm expansion. miR-21 overexpression substantially decreased expression of the phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) protein, leading to increased phosphorylation and activation of AKT, a component of a pro-proliferative and antiapoptotic pathway. Systemic injection of a locked nucleic acid-modified antagomir targeting miR-21 diminished the pro-proliferative impact of down-regulated PTEN, leading to a marked increase in the size of AAA. Similar results were seen in mice with AAA augmented by nicotine and in human aortic tissue samples from patients undergoing surgical repair of AAA (with more pronounced effects observed in smokers). Modulation of miR-21 expression shows potential as a new therapeutic option to limit AAA expansion and vascular disease progression.