MiR-208a-3p aggravates autophagy through the PDCD4-ATG5 pathway in Ang II-induced H9c2 cardiomyoblasts

Li Wang1, Nan Ye1, Xiaoyu Lian1

  • 1Department of Cardiology, Jinshan Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China.

Insights

MicroRNA-208a-3p promotes autophagy in cardiac hypertrophy by inhibiting PDCD4, offering a potential therapeutic target for heart failure. This study clarifies the link between autophagy dysregulation and cardiac dysfunction.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Biology
  • Molecular Cell Biology
  • Autophagy Research

Background:

  • Pathological cardiac hypertrophy is a key factor in heart failure development with limited therapeutic options.
  • Autophagy dysregulation is linked to cardiac hypertrophy, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the regulatory role of microRNA-208a-3p (miR-208a-3p) in autophagy within Angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced H9c2 cardiomyoblasts.
  • To elucidate the molecular mechanism connecting miR-208a-3p, autophagy, and cardiac hypertrophy.

Main Methods:

  • Induction of cardiac hypertrophy in H9c2 cardiomyoblasts using Angiotensin II (Ang II).
  • Analysis of miR-208a-3p expression levels under hypertrophy and starvation-induced autophagy.
  • Overexpression and knockdown studies of miR-208a-3p, programmed cell death protein 4 (PDCD4), and autophagy protein 5 (ATG5).
  • Dual-luciferase reporter assay to confirm direct binding of miR-208a-3p to PDCD4.

Main Results:

  • miR-208a-3p was upregulated in Ang II-induced H9c2 cells and during starvation-induced autophagy.
  • Overexpression of miR-208a-3p enhanced Ang II-induced autophagy, inhibited PDCD4, and upregulated ATG5.
  • Direct binding between miR-208a-3p and PDCD4 was confirmed.
  • PDCD4 modulated autophagy, with knockdown upregulating and overexpression downregulating the process.
  • ATG5 was involved in the PDCD4-mediated regulation of autophagy.

Conclusions:

  • miR-208a-3p promotes autophagy in the context of Ang II-induced cardiac hypertrophy.
  • The miR-208a-3p/PDCD4/ATG5 axis plays a crucial role in regulating autophagy during cardiac hypertrophy.
  • These findings offer a potential therapeutic strategy for hypertrophic-induced cardiac dysfunction.

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