Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 24, 2026

MicroRNA-based Regulation of Picornavirus Tropism
Published on: February 6, 2017
MicroRNA-199a regulates myocardial fibrosis in rats by targeting SFRP5
1Department of Emergency Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China. cmh6186@126.com.
Objective:
Myocardial fibrosis seriously affects normal heart function. This study focused on the role of microRNA-199a in regulating rat myocardial fibrosis by targeting secreted frizzled-related protein 5 (SFRP5).
Materials And Methods:
The in vitro myocardial fibrosis model was established by 10 μM isoproterenol (ISO) induction in cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) for 24 h. Expression levels of microRNA-199a, collagen I and α smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Protein levels of SFRP5 and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) in CFs were detected by Western blot. The binding condition between microRNA-199a and SFRP5 was verified by luciferase reporter gene assay. After transfection of microRNA-199a inhibitor or SFRP5 overexpression plasmid, proliferative and migratory rates of CFs were determined by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and transwell assay, respectively.
Results:
ISO treatment remarkably upregulated microRNA-199a expression in CFs. Transfection of microRNA-199a inhibitor could inhibit proliferation, migration and cardiac fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transformation (CMT) of CFs. Luciferase reporter gene assay confirmed the binding of microRNA-199a to SFRP5 3'UTR. Moreover, SFRP5 overexpression reversed the effects of microRNA-199a inhibitor on proliferation, migration, and CMT of CFs.
Conclusions:
MicroRNA-199a deficiency can inhibit the proliferative and migratory potentials of CFs, as well as CMT by targeting SFRP5, thus exerting the protective effect on myocardial fibrosis.
Related Concept Videos
MicroRNAs
MicroRNAs
Regulation of Expression Occurs at Multiple Steps
Transcription results in the generation of precursor (pre-mRNA) that consists of both exons and introns, which needs further processing before being translated to a...
Regulated Protein Degradation
Protein degradation plays two important roles in the cells. It helps to protect cells from misfolded or damaged proteins before they lead to a...
Cystic Fibrosis: Pathogenesis
CF is primarily caused by a genetic mutation in a chromosome 7 gene coding for the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein. The most common gene mutation leading to CF is the ΔF508 mutation,...
Regulated mRNA Transport

