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Effect of miR-21 on rat thoracic aortic aneurysm model by regulating the expressions of MMP-2 and MMP-9
1Department of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, People's Hospital of Henan University, Zhengzhou, China. Cuiming5971@126.com.
Objective:
To explore the mechanism underlying micro ribonucleic acid (miR)-21 in the invasion of rat aortic aneurysm cells in vitro by regulating matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9.
Materials And Methods:
Rats were randomly divided into three groups: control group, model group, and miR-21 group. Real Time fluorescence quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) was adopted to detect the levels of miR-21 in each group of cells, transwell assay was performed to measure the effect of miR-21 on the invasion of aortic aneurysm cells. Western blotting was used to examine the expression of PTEN, which is the predicted target of miR-21 in aortic aneurysm cells, as well as the expressions of invasion-related proteases, MMP-2 and MMP-9.
Results:
The expression level of miR-21 in thoracic aortic aneurysm cells in model group was significantly higher than that in normal group (p<0.05), and that in miR-21 group was remarkably higher than that in model group (p<0.05). MiR-21 group had evidently more aortic aneurysm cells and stronger cell invasion ability than normal group and model group (p<0.05). In addition, the expression level of PTEN in model group was significantly higher than that in normal group (p<0.05), while that in miR-21 group notably declined compared to model group, (p<0.05). Compared with normal group and model group, the expressions of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were markedly increased in miR-21 group (p<0.05).
Conclusions:
In aortic aneurysm cells of rats, miR-21 could suppress the expression of PTEN and activate MMP-2 and MMP-9 signals to promote the proliferation and migration of aortic aneurysm cells.
Insights
MicroRNA-21 (miR-21) promotes aortic aneurysm cell invasion by suppressing PTEN and activating matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-2 and MMP-9. This study clarifies miR-21's role in aneurysm progression.
Area of Science:
- Vascular Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Aortic aneurysms involve complex cellular mechanisms.
- MicroRNAs play regulatory roles in cellular processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of microRNA-21 (miR-21) in the invasion of rat aortic aneurysm cells.
- To elucidate the regulatory mechanism of miR-21 on matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-2 and MMP-9.
Main Methods:
- Real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) to measure miR-21 levels.
- Transwell assay to assess cell invasion.
- Western blotting to analyze PTEN, MMP-2, and MMP-9 expression.
Main Results:
- miR-21 expression was significantly elevated in aneurysm cells.
- Increased miR-21 promoted cell invasion and proliferation.
- miR-21 suppressed PTEN expression while upregulating MMP-2 and MMP-9.
Conclusions:
- miR-21 promotes aortic aneurysm cell invasion by downregulating PTEN.
- miR-21 activates MMP-2 and MMP-9 signaling pathways.
- miR-21 contributes to aortic aneurysm progression through these mechanisms.
