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Updated: May 20, 2026
Improved Rodent Model of Myocardial Ischemia and Reperfusion Injury
Published on: March 7, 2022
MicroRNA-15a/b are up-regulated in response to myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury
Li-Feng Liu1, Zhuo Liang, Zhen-Rong Lv
1Institute of Geriatric Cardiology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, 28 Fuxing Road, Beijing 100853, China.
Objective:
Several studies have indicated that miR-15a, miR-15b and miR-16 may be the important regulators of apoptosis. Since attenuate apoptosis could protect myocardium and reduce infarction size, the present study was aimed to find out whether these miRNAs participate in regulating myocardial ischemia reperfusion (I/R) injury.
Methods:
Apoptosis in mice hearts subjected to I/R was detected by TUNEL assay in vivo, while flow cytometry analysis followed by Annexin V/PI double stain in vitro was used to detect apoptosis in cultured cardiomyocytes which were subjected to hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R). Taqman real-time quantitative PCR was used to confirm whether miR-15a/15b/16 were involved in the regulation of cardiac I/R and H/R.
Results:
Compared to those of the controls, I/R or H/R induced apoptosis of cardiomyocytes was significantly increased both in vivo (24.4% ± 9.4% vs. 2.2% ± 1.9%, P < 0.01, n = 5) and in vitro (14.12% ± 0.92% vs. 2.22% ± 0.08%). The expression of miR-15a and miR-15b, but not miR-16, was increased in the mice I/R model, and the results were consistent in the H/R model.
Conclusions:
Our data indicate miR-15 and miR-15b are up-regulated in response to cardiac I/R injury, therefore, down-regulation of miR-15a/b may be a promising strategy to reduce myocardial apoptosis induced by cardiac I/R injury.
Insights
MicroRNAs miR-15a and miR-15b are upregulated during cardiac ischemia reperfusion injury, increasing cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Downregulating these microRNAs may protect the heart from injury.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Apoptosis Research
Background:
- MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key regulators of gene expression.
- miR-15a, miR-15b, and miR-16 have been implicated in apoptosis regulation.
- Attenuating apoptosis is crucial for protecting the myocardium and reducing infarction size.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of miR-15a, miR-15b, and miR-16 in myocardial ischemia reperfusion (I/R) injury.
- To determine if these miRNAs are involved in regulating apoptosis in cardiomyocytes during I/R.
Main Methods:
- In vivo TUNEL assay to detect apoptosis in mouse hearts subjected to I/R.
- In vitro flow cytometry with Annexin V/PI staining for apoptosis in cardiomyocytes under hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R).
- Taqman real-time quantitative PCR to quantify miR-15a, miR-15b, and miR-16 expression.
Main Results:
- Ischemia reperfusion (I/R) and hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) significantly increased cardiomyocyte apoptosis in vivo and in vitro.
- Expression of miR-15a and miR-15b was significantly increased in the I/R and H/R models.
- miR-16 expression levels did not show significant changes in response to I/R or H/R.
Conclusions:
- miR-15a and miR-15b are upregulated in response to cardiac I/R injury.
- Down-regulation of miR-15a/b presents a potential therapeutic strategy to mitigate myocardial apoptosis caused by I/R injury.
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