Involvement of miR-200b-PKCα signalling in pulmonary hypertension in cor pulmonale model

The right ventricle (RV) enlargement and pulmonary fibrosis are involved in cor pulmonale. The role of miR-200b in cor pulmonale is less well understood. This study was designed to evaluate the regulatory roles of miR-200b in cor pulmonale. Cor pulmonary mouse model was built via monocrotaline injection of monocrotaline (MCT). The expression of miR-200b in the lungs, RV and left ventricle (LV) are using real-time polymerase chain reaction. The transthoracic echocardiography was employed to determine the effects of miR-200b mimics and Gö6976 injection on MCT mice. The protein levels of protein kinase C α (PKCα), collagen, and fibronectin in the lung, RV, and LV in the mice with and without miR-200b mimics and Gö6976 injection were evaluated using western blot. The expression of miR-200b decreased in MCT mice, while there was no difference in LV. Both the miR-200b mimics and Gö6976 injection reversed the muscularization in the pulmonary artery, reversed RV hypertrophy, reduced RV systolic pressure, wall thickness and pulmonary fibrosis. The injection of miR-200b can reduce the PKCα expression in the lung, RV, and LV. This study confirmed the down-regulation of miR-200b in cor pulmonale. The reverse effects of miR-200b in the present study may provide a potential tool for cor pulmonary treatment.