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Tissue-specific miRNA Expression Profiling in Mouse Heart Sections Using In Situ Hybridization
08:22

Tissue-specific miRNA Expression Profiling in Mouse Heart Sections Using In Situ Hybridization

Published on: September 15, 2018

The expression of microRNA and microRNA clusters in the aging heart

Xiaomin Zhang1, Gohar Azhar, Jeanne Y Wei

  • 1Donald W. Reynolds Department of Geriatrics, The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, Little Rock, Arkansas, United States of America.

Plos One
|April 25, 2012
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Aging significantly alters cardiac microRNA (miRNA) expression, affecting both guide (miR) and passenger (miR*) strands. These age-related changes in miRNA clusters and associated proteins suggest coordinated regulation during the aging process.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Aging Research

Background:

  • MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are crucial in cardiac development, hypertrophy, and failure.
  • The impact of aging on cardiac miRNA clusters and their guide (miR) and passenger (miR*) strands remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate age-related changes in cardiac miRNA and miRNA* strand expression in mice.
  • To explore the regulation of miRNA expression during adult aging.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of miRNA and miRNA* expression profiles in young adult versus old mouse hearts.
  • Assessment of pri-miRNA transcript levels and expression of Argonaut proteins (Ago1 and Ago2).
  • Transfection assays to study the role of Ago1 and Ago2 in miRNA induction.

Main Results:

  • 65 miRNAs showed differential expression in old versus young adult hearts, with about half belonging to 11 miRNA clusters.
  • Most miRNA clusters exhibited coordinated expression changes, suggesting common regulatory mechanisms.
  • Age-related changes were observed in miR, miR*, pri-miRNA transcripts, and Ago1/Ago2 protein levels, particularly from middle to old age.

Conclusions:

  • Adult aging induces significant changes in cardiac pri-miRNA transcripts, Argonaut proteins, and both miR and miR* strands.
  • Coordinated regulation within miRNA clusters suggests a broad impact on aging-related cardiac targets.
  • Pri-miRNA transcription and Ago1/Ago2 proteins likely play key roles in regulating cardiac miRNA expression during aging.

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