The molecular mechanisms underlying anthracyclines-induced cardiotoxicity have not been well elucidated. MiRNAs were revealed dysregulated in the myocardium and plasma of rats received Dox treatment. MicroRNA-34a-5p (miR-34a-5p) was verified increased in the myocardium and plasma of Dox-treated rats, but was reversed in rats received Dox plus DEX treatments. Human miR-34a-5p was also observed increased in the plasma of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma after 9- and 16-week epirubicin therapy. Up-regulation of miR-34a-5p was observed in Dox-induced rat cardiomyocyte H9c2 cells. MiR-34a-5p could augment Bax expression, but inhibited Bcl-2 expression, along with the increases of the activated caspase-3 and mitochondrial potentials in H9C2 cells. MiR-34a-5p was verified to modulate Sirt1 expression post-transcriptionally. In parallel to Sirt1 siRNA, miR-34a-5p could enhance p66shc expression, accompanied by increases of Bax and the activated caspase-3 and a decrease of Bcl-2 in H9c2 cells. Moreover, enforced expression of Sirt1 alleviated Dox-induced apoptosis of H9c2 cells, with suppressing levels of p66shc, Bax, the activated caspase-3 and miR-34a-5p, and enhancing Bcl-2 expression. Therefore, miR-34a-5p enhances cardiomyocyte apoptosis by targeting Sirt1, activation of miR-34a-5p/Sirt1/p66shc pathway contributes to Dox-induced cardiotoxicity, and blockage of this pathway represents a potential cardioprotective effect against anthracyclines.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.