miR-19b targets pulmonary endothelial syndecan-1 following hemorrhagic shock

Hemorrhagic shock results in systemic injury to the endothelium contributing to post-shock morbidity and mortality. The mechanism involves syndecan-1, the backbone of the endothelial glycocalyx. We have shown in a rodent model that lung syndecan-1 mRNA is reduced following hemorrhage, whereas the molecular mechanism underlying the mRNA reduction is not clear. In this study, we present evidence that miR-19b targets syndecan-1 mRNA to downregulate its expression. Our results demonstrate that miR-19b was increased in hemorrhagic shock patients and in-vitro specifically bound to syndecan-1 mRNA and caused its degradation. Further, hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R), our in vitro hemorrhage model, increased miR-19b expression in human lung microvascular endothelial cells, leading to a decrease in syndecan-1 mRNA and protein. H/R insult and miR-19b mimic overexpression comparably exaggerated permeability and enhanced endothelial barrier breakdown. The detrimental role of miR-19b in inducing endothelial dysfunction was confirmed in vivo. Lungs from mice undergoing hemorrhagic shock exhibited a significant increase in miR-19b and a concomitant decrease in syndecan-1 mRNA. Pretreatment with miR-19b oligo inhibitor significantly decreased lung injury, inflammation, and permeability and improved hemodynamics. These findings suggest that inhibition of miR-19b may be a putative therapeutic avenue for mitigating post shock pulmonary endothelial dysfunction in hemorrhage shock.