Cyclic tensile strain facilitates proliferation and migration of human aortic smooth muscle cells and reduces their apoptosis via miRNA-187-3p

Abstract

The cardiovascular is a system that contains extremely complex mechanical factors, in which the circulatory flow of blood has rich mechanical laws. Many studies have revealed that mechanical factors play a very important role in the process of revascularization. Hence, it is essential to investigate the mechanical factors in the process of revascularization in depth. A cyclic tensile strain (CTS) was applied to human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) at a frequency of 1 Hz and amplitudes of 5%, 10% and 15%, respectively. SmallRNA-seq was used to identify differentially expressed miRNAs (DE-miRNAs) responding to CTS in HASMCs. Starbase database predicted the target genes of DE-miRNAs. Metascape was applied for GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis and protein–protein interaction network construction. The proliferation and migration of CTS-treated HASMCs were significantly enhanced, and apoptosis were significantly reduced compared to the control group. SmallRNA-seq results demonstrated that 55, 16 and 16 DE-miRNAs were present in 5%, 10% and 15% CTS-treated HASMCs, respectively. Compared to controls, with miR-26a-2-3p and miR-187-3p being the intersection of these DE-miRNAs. Starbase database identified 189 common target genes for miR-26a-2-3p and miR-187-3p. Common target genes are mainly enriched in the basolateral plasma membrane and endocytosis. Further, in vitro experiments exhibited that CTS upregulated miR-187-3p expression, and miR-187-3p enhanced the proliferation and migration of HASMCs and reduced their apoptosis. It is suggested that miR-187-3p may be an important target for CTS participate in the process of cardiovascular disease.

Exploration of the miR‐187‐3p/CNR2 pathway in modulating osteoblast differentiation and treating postmenopausal osteoporosis through mechanical stress

“…Abnormal expression of miR‐187‐3p has been observed in several tumors, including breast cancer, 15 peripheral T‐cell lymphoma, 16 osteosarcoma, 17 and hepatocellular carcinoma, 18 with implications for unfavorable clinical outcomes. Moreover, miR‐187‐3p has been implicated in the treatment of temporal lobe epilepsy, 19 type 2 diabetes, 20,21 alleviating damage caused by ischemia–reperfusion, 22,23 and promoting the growth of human aortic smooth muscle cells for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases 24 . In the context of bone homeostasis regulation, studies have indicated a decrease in miR‐187‐3p expression after treating bone cells with titanium 25 .…”

“…Moreover, miR-187-3p has been implicated in the treatment of temporal lobe epilepsy, 19 type 2 diabetes, 20,21 alleviating damage caused by ischemia-reperfusion, 22,23 and promoting the growth of human aortic smooth muscle cells for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. 24 In the context of bone homeostasis regulation, studies have indicated a decrease in miR-187-3p expression after treating bone cells with titanium. 25 Research has revealed that miR-187-3p inhibits the osteogenic differentiation of human osteoblast precursor cells (hFOB 1.19) by suppressing cannabinoid receptor 2.…”