Effects of miR-200b-3p and miR-424-5p regulating notch signaling pathway on atherosclerosis induced by PM_2.5in vitro

Atmospheric particulate matter (PM) is one of the main pollutants of air pollution, which adsorbs several harmful organic substances, heavy metals, bacteria, and viruses. Epidemiological research has demonstrated that PM_2.5 exposure might alter subclinical markers of atherosclerosis while the mechanism is unclear. In the current study, macrophages and foam cells that were differentiated from THP-1 cells were exposed to PM_2.5 (0, 25, 50, and 100 μg/mL). PM_2.5 exposure reduce the expression of miR-200b-3p and miR-424-5p, thereby regulating the Notch signaling pathway in macrophages and foam cells, which affects the expression of lipid metabolism-related genes (ABCA1, LDLR, SR-A, SR-BI and CD36) and aggravates the dysfunction of lipid metabolism and leads to atherosclerosis. The study provides new ideas for the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis.