Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 5, 2026

Induction of Atherosclerotic Plaques Through Activation of Mineralocorticoid Receptors in Apolipoprotein E-deficient Mice
07:36

Induction of Atherosclerotic Plaques Through Activation of Mineralocorticoid Receptors in Apolipoprotein E-deficient Mice

Published on: September 26, 2018

10.5K

MicroRNA-23a-5p promotes atherosclerotic plaque progression and vulnerability by repressing ATP-binding cassette

Shuai Yang1, Zi-Ming Ye2, Shengcai Chen1

  • 1Department of Neurology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China.

Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology
|September 19, 2018
PubMed

Insights

MicroRNA-23a-5p (miR-23a-5p) promotes vulnerable plaque formation in atherosclerosis by inhibiting cholesterol efflux. Inhibiting miR-23a-5p offers a potential therapeutic strategy to stabilize plaques and prevent stroke.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Biology
  • Molecular Medicine
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques in carotid arteries are a primary cause of acute ischemic stroke (AIS).
  • Early detection and intervention for vulnerable plaques remain challenging.
  • MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play critical roles in regulating cellular processes relevant to atherosclerosis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of specific miRNAs in the development and progression of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques.
  • To identify novel molecular targets and therapeutic strategies for atherosclerosis and AIS.

Main Methods:

  • Microarray analysis of plasma miRNAs in AIS patients with vulnerable plaques.
  • Expression analysis of miR-23a-5p in plasma and macrophages from atherosclerosis mouse models.
  • Bioinformatics analysis and in vitro experiments to identify miR-23a-5p targets.
  • Luciferase reporter assays to confirm miR-23a-5p binding to target 3' UTRs.
  • In vitro functional assays assessing cholesterol efflux and foam cell formation.
  • In vivo studies using ApoE-/- mice treated with miR-23a-5p antagomir.

Main Results:

  • miR-23a-5p was significantly elevated in AIS patients with vulnerable plaques and correlated with plaque progression.
  • miR-23a-5p expression was increased in plasma and macrophages of atherosclerosis mice.
  • ATP-binding cassette transporters A1/G1 (ABCA1/G1) were identified as novel targets of miR-23a-5p.
  • miR-23a-5p inhibition enhanced cholesterol efflux and reduced foam cell formation by upregulating ABCA1/G1.
  • Systemic delivery of miR-23a-5p antagomir increased ABCA1/G1 expression, reduced atherosclerosis, and promoted plaque stability in vivo.

Conclusions:

  • miR-23a-5p is a key regulator in the progression and vulnerability of atherosclerotic plaques.
  • miR-23a-5p promotes macrophage-derived foam cell formation.
  • Targeting miR-23a-5p with antagomirs represents a promising therapeutic approach for atherosclerosis and stroke prevention.
Keywords:
ABCA1/ABCG1AtherosclerosisFoam cell formationPlaque vulnerabilitymiR-23a-5p

More Related Videos

A Human Ex Vivo Atherosclerotic Plaque Model to Study Lesion Biology05:51

A Human Ex Vivo Atherosclerotic Plaque Model to Study Lesion Biology

Published on: May 6, 2014

13.8K
Quantitative Analysis and Characterization of Atherosclerotic Lesions in the Murine Aortic Sinus06:43

Quantitative Analysis and Characterization of Atherosclerotic Lesions in the Murine Aortic Sinus

Published on: December 7, 2013

14.6K

Related Concept Videos

MicroRNAs01:22

MicroRNAs

MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns—non-coding regions of a gene—or intergenic regions—stretches of DNA present between genes. Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After...
24.2K
ATP Yield01:31

ATP Yield

Cellular respiration produces 30 - 32 ATP per glucose molecule. Although most of the ATP results from oxidative phosphorylation and the electron transport chain (ETC), 4 ATP are gained beforehand (2 from glycolysis and 2 from the citric acid cycle).
The ETC is embedded in the inner mitochondrial membrane and is comprised of four main protein complexes and an ATP synthase. NADH and FADH2 pass electrons to these complexes, which pump protons into the intermembrane space. This distribution of...
79.0K
Primary Active Transport01:47

Primary Active Transport

In contrast to passive transport, active transport involves a substance being moved through membranes in a direction against its concentration or electrochemical gradient. There are two types of active transport: primary active transport and secondary active transport. Primary active transport utilizes chemical energy from ATP to drive protein pumps that are embedded in the cell membrane. With energy from ATP, the pumps transport ions against their electrochemical gradients—a direction...
198.9K
Secondary Active Transport01:55

Secondary Active Transport

One example of how cells use the energy contained in electrochemical gradients is demonstrated by glucose transport into cells. The ion vital to this process is sodium (Na+), which is typically present in higher concentrations extracellularly than in the cytosol. Such a concentration difference is due, in part, to the action of an enzyme “pump” embedded in the cellular membrane that actively expels Na+ from a cell. Importantly, as this pump contributes to the high concentration of...
137.9K
Electron Transport Chains01:28

Electron Transport Chains

The final stage of cellular respiration is oxidative phosphorylation that consists of two steps: the electron transport chain and chemiosmosis. The electron transport chain is a set of proteins found in the inner mitochondrial membrane in eukaryotic cells. Its primary function is to establish a proton gradient that can be used during chemiosmosis to produce ATP and generate electron carriers, such as NAD+ and FAD, that are used in glycolysis and the citric acid cycle.
The ETC is comprised of...
112.4K
Hydrolysis of ATP01:08

Hydrolysis of ATP

The bonds of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) can be broken through the addition of water, releasing one or two phosphate groups in an exergonic process called hydrolysis. This reaction liberates the energy in the bonds for use in the cell—for instance, to synthesize proteins from amino acids.
If one phosphate group is removed, a molecule of ADP—adenosine diphosphate—remains, along with inorganic phosphate. ADP can be further hydrolyzed to AMP—adenosine...
81.4K