β-Blocker carvedilol protects cardiomyocytes against oxidative stress-induced apoptosis by up-regulating miR-133 expression

Unheralded Adrenergic Receptor Signaling in Cellular Oxidative Stress and Death

Catecholamines (CAs) bind and activate adrenergic receptors (ARs), thus exuding a key role in cardiac adaptations to global physiological queues. Prolonged exposure to high levels of CAs promotes deleterious effects on the cardiovascular system, leading to organ dysfunction and heart failure (HF). In addition to the prominent role of ARs in inotropic and chronotropic responses, recent studies have delved into elucidating mechanisms contributing to CA toxicity and cell death. Central to this process is understanding the involvement of α1AR and βAR in cardiac remodeling and mechanisms of cellular survival. Here, we highlight the complexity of AR signaling and the fundamental need for a better understanding of its contribution to oxidative stress and cell death. This crucial informational nexus remains a barrier to the development of new therapeutic strategies for cardiovascular diseases.

Non-Coding Ribonucleic Acids as Diagnostic and Therapeutic Targets in Cardiac Fibrosis

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Cardiac fibrosis is a crucial juncture following cardiac injury and a precursor for many clinical heart disease manifestations. Epigenetic modulators, particularly non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), are gaining prominence as diagnostic and therapeutic tools.

RECENT FINDINGS

miRNAs are short linear RNA molecules involved in post-transcriptional regulation; lncRNAs and circRNAs are RNA sequences greater than 200 nucleotides that also play roles in regulating gene expression through a variety of mechanisms including miRNA sponging, direct interaction with mRNA, providing protein scaffolding, and encoding their own products. NcRNAs have the capacity to regulate one another and form sophisticated regulatory networks. The individual roles and disease relevance of miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs to cardiac fibrosis have been increasingly well described, though the complexity of their interrelationships, regulatory dynamics, and context-specific roles needs further elucidation. This review provides an overview of select ncRNAs relevant in cardiac fibrosis as a surrogate for many cardiac disease states with a focus on crosstalk and regulatory networks, variable actions among different disease states, and the clinical implications thereof. Further, the clinical feasibility of diagnostic and therapeutic applications as well as the strategies underway to advance ncRNA theranostics is explored.

RNA interference-based therapies for atherosclerosis: Recent advances and future prospects

Atherosclerosis represents a pathological state that affects the arterial system of the organism. This chronic, progressive condition is typified by the accumulation of atheroma within arterial walls. Modulation of RNA molecules through RNA-based therapies has expanded the range of therapeutic options available for neurodegenerative diseases, infectious diseases, cancer, and, more recently, cardiovascular disease (CVD). Presently, microRNAs and small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) are the most widely employed therapeutic strategies for targeting RNA molecules, and for regulating gene expression and protein production. Nevertheless, for these agents to be developed into effective medications, various obstacles must be overcome, including inadequate binding affinity, instability, challenges of delivering to the tissues, immunogenicity, and off-target toxicity. In this comprehensive review, we discuss in detail the current state of RNA interference (RNAi)-based therapies.

Molecular mechanisms that regulate the heat stress response in sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus intermedius) by comparative heat tolerance performance and whole-transcriptome RNA sequencing

In the context of climate change and extreme high temperature, the commercially important sea urchin Strongylocentrotus intermedius suffers high mortality during summer in Northern China. How sea urchins respond to high temperatures is of great concern to academia and industry. How to understand the heat tolerance of sea urchin from the whole transcriptome level. In this study, the heat-resistant S. intermedius bred by our team and its control group were used as the research objects, then we applied whole-transcriptome RNA sequencing to detect differentially expressed mRNAs, microRNAs, long noncoding RNAs that respond to heat stress in the heat-resistant and control S. intermedius. A competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulatory network was constructed with predicted pairs of differentially expressed mRNAs and noncoding RNAs and revealed the molecular regulatory mechanisms in S. intermedius responding to heat stress. A functional analysis suggested that the ceRNAs were involved in basal metabolism, calcium ion transport, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and apoptosis. This is the whole-transcriptomic analysis of S. intermedius under heat stress to propose ceRNA networks that will provide a basis for studying the potential functions of long noncoding RNAs and miRNAs in the heat stress response in S. intermedius and provide a theoretical basis for the study of the molecular mechanism of sea urchins in response to environmental changes.

Exosomal microRNA-133b-3p from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells inhibits angiogenesis and oxidative stress via FBN1 repression in diabetic retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a common microvascular complication. Many studies have focused on the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in DR but not specifically on miR-133b-3p. Thus, this study is to unmask the mechanisms of miR-133b-3p in DR. KK/Upj-Ay mice (a spontaneous diabetic nephropathy model of DM, referred to as DR mice) were used in the study, and retinal tissues were collected. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) were isolated and identified. High glucose (HG)-treated mouse retinal microvascular endothelial cells (mRMECs) were transfected or co-cultured with BMSCs-derived exosomes. Then, cell proliferation, migration, apoptosis, angiogenesis, and oxidative stress were observed. MiR-133b-3p and FBN1 expression in tissues and cells was detected. MiR-133b-3p expression was reduced, and FBN1 expression was increased in retinal tissues of DR mice and HG-treated mRMECs. Up-regulating miR-133b-3p or down-regulating FBN1 or BMSCs-derived exosomes impaired oxidative stress, angiogenesis, proliferation, migration, and promoted apoptosis of HG-treated mRMECs. This study has elucidated that exosomal miR-133b-3p from BMSCs suppresses angiogenesis and oxidative stress in DR via FBN1 repression.

New Insights into the Functions of MicroRNAs in Cardiac Fibrosis: From Mechanisms to Therapeutic Strategies

Cardiac fibrosis is a significant global health problem associated with almost all types of heart disease. Extensive cardiac fibrosis reduces tissue compliance and contributes to adverse outcomes, such as cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, cardiomyocyte apoptosis, and even heart failure. It is mainly associated with pathological myocardial remodeling, characterized by the excessive deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins in cardiac parenchymal tissues. In recent years, a growing body of evidence demonstrated that microRNAs (miRNAs) have a crucial role in the pathological development of cardiac fibrosis. More than sixty miRNAs have been associated with the progression of cardiac fibrosis. In this review, we summarized potential miRNAs and miRNAs-related regulatory mechanisms for cardiac fibrosis and discussed the potential clinical application of miRNAs in cardiac fibrosis.

Carvedilol attenuates brain damage in mice with hepatic encephalopathy

Brain injury is the most common and serious consequence of hepatic encephalopathy (HE), and its pathophysiology is poorly understood. Excessive inflammatory, oxidative and apoptotic responses are the major mechanisms involved in the progression of brain injury induced by HE. Carvedilol is an adrenergic receptor antagonist with pronouncedantioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. The present study aimed to investigatethe effects and underlying mechanisms of carvedilol on HE-induced brain damage in mice. Experimental model of HE was induced by the injection of thioacetamide (200 mg/kg) for two consecutive days and then mice were treated with carvedilol (10 or 20 mg/kg/day, orally) for 3 days in treatment groups. After the behavioral test, animals were sacrificed and the brain tissues were collected for biochemical, real time PCR and immunohistochemical analysis. The results showed that carvedilol improved locomotor impairment and reduced mortality rate in mice with HE. Carvedilol treatment decreased the brain levels of oxidative stress markers and induced Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. Carvedilol inhibited the activity of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL1β and IL-6 in the brain tissues. Treatment of mice with carvedilol caused a significant reduction in the brain levels of iNOS/NO, myeloperoxidase (MPO), cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and chemokine MCP-1 as proinflammatory mediators in HE. Moreover, the ratio of Bcl2/Bax was increased and apoptotic cell death was decreased in the brain of mice treated with carvedilol. In conclusion, carvedilol exerted protective effect against HE-induced brain injury through increasing antioxidant defense mechanisms and inhibitionof inflammatory and apoptotic pathways.

Preparation and Characterization of a Novel Mucoadhesive Carvedilol Nanosponge: A Promising Platform for Buccal Anti-Hypertensive Delivery

Carvedilol (CRV) is a non-selective third generation beta-blocker used to treat hypertension, congestive heart failure and angina pectoris. Oral administration of CRV showed poor bioavailability (25%), which might be ascribed to its extensive first-pass metabolism. Buccal delivery is known to boost drugs bioavailability. The aim of this study is to investigate the efficacy of bilosomes-based mucoadhesive carvedilol nanosponge for enhancing the oral bioavailability of CRV. The bilosomes were prepared, optimized and characterized for particle size, surface morphology, encapsulation efficiency and ex-vivo permeation studies. Then, the optimized formula was incorporated into a carboxymethyl cellulose/hydroxypropyl cellulose (CMC/HPC) composite mixture to obtain buccal nanosponge enriched with CRV bilosomes. The optimized bilosome formula (BLS9), showing minimum vesicle size, maximum entrapment, and highest cumulative in vitro release, exhibited a spherical shape with 217.2 nm in diameter, 87.13% entrapment efficiency, and sustained drug release for up to 24 h. In addition, ex-vivo drug permeation across sheep buccal mucosa revealed enhanced drug permeation with bilosomal formulations, compared to aqueous drug suspension. Consecutively, BLS9 was incorporated in a CMC/HPC gel and lyophilized for 24 h to obtain bilosomal nanosponge to enhance CRV buccal delivery. Morphological analysis of the prepared nanosponge revealed improved swelling with a porosity of 67.58%. The in vivo assessment of rats indicated that CRV-loaded nanosponge efficiently enhanced systolic/diastolic blood pressure, decreased elevated oxidative stress, improved lipid profile and exhibited a potent cardio-protective effect. Collectively, bilosomal nanosponge might represent a plausible nanovehicle for buccal delivery of CRV for effective management of hypertension.

Reactive Oxygen Species-Mediated Diabetic Heart Disease: Mechanisms and Therapies

Significance: Diabetic heart disease (DHD) is the primary cause of mortality in people with diabetes. A significant contributor to the development of DHD is the disruption of redox balance due to reactive oxygen species (ROS) overproduction resulting from sustained high glucose levels. Therapies specifically focusing on the suppression of ROS will hugely benefit patients with DHD. Recent Advances: In addition to the gold standard pharmacological therapies, the recent development of gene therapy provides an exciting avenue for developing new therapeutics to treat ROS-mediated DHD. In particular, microRNAs (miRNAs) are gaining interest due to their crucial role in several physiological and pathological processes, including DHD. Critical Issues: miRNAs have many targets and differential function depending on the environment. Therefore, a proper understanding of the function of miRNAs in specific cell types and cell states is required for the successful application of this technology. In the present review, we first provide an overview of the role of ROS in contributing to DHD and the currently available treatments. We then discuss the newer gene therapies with a specific focus on the role of miRNAs as the causative factors and therapeutic targets to combat ROS-mediated DHD. Future Directions: The future of miRNA therapeutics in tackling ROS-mediated DHD is dependent on a complete understanding of how miRNAs behave in different cells and environments. Future research should also aim to develop conditional miRNA therapeutic platforms capable of switching on and off in response to disruptions in the redox state. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 36, 608-630.

Diagnostic and Prognostic Value of miRNAs after Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: A Review

MiRNAs are noncoding, 21-24 nucleotide-long RNA particles that control over 60% of genes. MiRNAs affect gene expression through binding to the 3'-untranslated region of messenger RNA (mRNA), thus inhibiting mRNA translation or inducing mRNA degradation. MiRNAs have been associated with various cardiovascular diseases, including heart failure, hypertension, left ventricular hypertrophy, or ischemic heart disease. In addition, miRNA expression alters during coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery, which could be used to predict perioperative outcomes. CABG is an operation in which complex coronary arteries stenosis is treated by bypassing atherosclerotic lesions with venous or arterial grafts. Despite a very low perioperative mortality rate and excellent long-term survival, CABG is associated with postoperative complications, including reperfusion injury, graft failure, atrial fibrillation and perioperative myocardial infarction. So far, no reliable diagnostic and prognostic tools to predict prognosis after CABG have been developed. Changes in the perioperative miRNA expression levels could improve the diagnosis of post-CABG myocardial infarction and atrial fibrillation and could be used to stratify risk after CABG. Herein, we describe the expression changes of different subtypes of miRNAs during CABG and review the diagnostic and prognostic utility of miRNAs in patients undergoing CABG.

Exosomes and Exosomal Non-coding RNAs Are Novel Promises for the Mechanism-Based Diagnosis and Treatments of Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia worldwide and has a significant impact on human health and substantial costs. Currently, there is a lack of accurate biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of AF. Moreover, the long-term efficacy of the catheter ablation in the AF is unsatisfactory. Therefore, it is necessary to explore new biomarkers and treatment strategies for the mechanism-based AF. Exosomes are nano-sized biovesicles released by nearly all types of cells. Since the AF would be linked to the changes of the atrial cells and their microenvironment, and the AF would strictly influence the exosomal non-coding RNAs (exo-ncRNAs) expression, which makes them as attractive diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for the AF. Simultaneously, the exo-ncRNAs have been found to play an important role in the mechanisms of the AF and have potential therapeutic prospects. Although the role of the exo-ncRNAs in the AF is being actively investigated, the evidence is still limited. Furthermore, there is a lack of consensus regarding the most appropriate approach for exosome isolation and characterization. In this article, we reviewed the new methodologies available for exosomes biogenesis, isolation, and characterization, and then discussed the mechanism of the AF and various levels and types of exosomes relevant to the AF, with the special emphasis on the exo-ncRNAs in the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of the mechanism-based AF.

Systematic review and network analysis of microRNAs involved in cardioprotection against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury and infarction: Involvement of redox signalling

Although myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (I/R) and its pathological consequences are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, cardioprotective therapeutics are still not on the market. Oxidative stress, a major contributing factor to myocardial I/R, changes transcription of coding and non-coding RNAs, alters post-transcriptional modulations, and regulate protein function. MicroRNA (miRNA) expression can be altered by oxidative stress and microRNAs may also regulate cytoprotective mechanisms and exert cardioprotection againts I/R. Transcriptomic analysis of I/R and oxidative stress-induced alterations followed by microRNA-mRNA target interaction network analysis may reveal microRNAs and their mRNA targets that may play a role in cardioprotection and serve as microRNA therapeutics or novel molecular targets for further drug development. Here we provide a summary of a systematic literature review and in silico molecular network analysis to reveal important cardioprotective microRNAs and their molecular targets that may provide cardioprotection via regulation of redox signalling.

Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Exosomal MicroRNA-133a Restrains Myocardial Fibrosis and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Viral Myocarditis Rats Through Suppressing MAML1

Myocarditis is a disease characterized by localized or diffuse inflammation of the myocardium without efficient treatment. This study explored the regulatory mechanism of microRNA-133 (miR-133) secreted from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosome (BMSC-Exo) on myocardial fibrosis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in viral myocarditis (VMC) rats through regulating mastermind-like 1 (MAML1). BMSCs in rats were isolated and cultured to identify their immune phenotype and osteogenic and adipogenic ability, and BMSC-Exo were extracted and identified. Exosomes were obtained through ultracentrifugation, which were identified by transmission electron microscope and western blot analysis. The rats were injected with Coxsackie B3 virus for preparation of VMC model, and cardiomyocytes were isolated, cultured and grouped in the same way as animal experiments (NC^Exo, Ad-miR-133a^Exo, Adas-miR-133a^Exo). In vivo and in vitro experiments were conducted to figure out the roles of exosomal miR-133a and MAML1 in inflammation, apoptosis, EMT, fibrosis, and cell viability. The targeting relationship between miR-133a and MAML1 was verified by dual luciferase reporter gene assay. BMSC-Exo raised miR-133a expression in VMC rats and effectively improved the VMC rat cardiac function and myocardial fibrosis, increased cardiomyocyte viability and inhibited the EMT process. Elevated miR-133a in exosomes strengthened the improvements. Silenced miR-133a effectively reversed the effects of BMSC-Exo on VMC rats. miR-133a targeted MAML1. Inhibition of MAML1 improved cardiac function and myocardial fibrosis in VMC rats and could reverse the effect of miR-133a-silenced exosomes on VMC rats. Our study suggests that elevated exosomal miR-133a suppresses myocardial fibrosis and EMT in rats with VMC via down-regulating MAML1, thereby inhibiting the progression of myocarditis.

MicroRNA-98 ameliorates doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity via regulating caspase-8 dependent Fas/RIP3 pathway

Cardiotoxicity is one of the primary limitations in the clinical use of the anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX). However, the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in DOX-induced cardiomyocyte death has not yet been covered. To investigate this, we observed a significant increase in miR-98 expression in neonatal rat ventricular myocytes after DOX treatment, and MTT, LIVE/Dead and Viability/Cytotoxicity staining showed that miR-98 mimic inhibited DOX-induced cell death. This was also confirmed by Flow cytometry and Annexin V-FITC/PI staining. Interestingly, the protein expression of caspase-8 was upregulated by miR-98 mimics during this process, whereas Fas and RIP3 were downregulated. In addition, the effect of miR-98 against the expression of Fas and RIP3 were restored by the specific caspase-8 inhibitor Z-IETD-FMK. Thus, we demonstrate that miR-98 protects cardiomyocytes from DOX-induced injury by regulating the caspase-8-dependent Fas/RIP3 pathway. Our findings enhance understanding of the therapeutic role of miRNAs in the treatment of DOX-induced cardiotoxicity.

m6A modification promotes miR-133a repression during cardiac development and hypertrophy via IGF2BP2

Both N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA modification and microRNAs (miRNAs) are common regulatory mechanisms for gene post-transcription by modulating mRNA stability and translation. They also share the same 3′-untranslated regions (UTRs) regions for their target gene. However, little is known about their potential interaction in cell development and biology. Here, we aimed to investigate how m6A regulates the specific miRNA repression during cardiac development and hypertrophy. Our multiple lines of bioinformatic and molecular biological evidence have shown that m6A modification on cardiac miR-133a target sequence promotes miR-133a repressive effect via AGO2-IGF2BP2 (Argonaute 2—Insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA binding protein 2) complex. Among 139 cardiac miRNAs, only the seed sequence of miR-133a was inversely complement to m6A consensus motif “GGACH” by sequence alignment analysis. Immunofluorescence staining, luciferase reporter, and m6A-RIP (RNA immunoprecipitation) assays revealed that m6A modification facilitated miR-133a binding to and repressing their targets. The inhibition of the miR-133a on cardiac proliferation and hypertrophy could be prevented by silencing of Fto (FTO alpha-ketoglutarate dependent dioxygenase) which induced m6A modification. IGF2BP2, an m6A binding protein, physically interacted with AGO2 and increased more miR-133a accumulation on its target site, which was modified by m6A. In conclusion, our study revealed a novel and precise regulatory mechanism that the m6A modification promoted the repression of specific miRNA during heart development and hypertrophy. Targeting m6A modification might provide a strategy to repair hypertrophic gene expression induced by miR-133a.

Epigenetic Regulation of Autophagy in Cardiovascular Pathobiology

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the number one cause of debilitation and mortality worldwide, with a need for cost-effective therapeutics. Autophagy is a highly conserved catabolic recycling pathway triggered by various intra- or extracellular stimuli to play an essential role in development and pathologies, including CVDs. Accordingly, there is great interest in identifying mechanisms that govern autophagic regulation. Autophagic regulation is very complex and multifactorial that includes epigenetic pathways, such as histone modifications to regulate autophagy-related gene expression, decapping-associated mRNA degradation, microRNAs, and long non-coding RNAs; pathways are also known to play roles in CVDs. Molecular understanding of epigenetic-based pathways involved in autophagy and CVDs not only will enhance the understanding of CVDs, but may also provide novel therapeutic targets and biomarkers for CVDs.

Biotherapeutic-loaded injectable hydrogels as a synergistic strategy to support myocardial repair after myocardial infarction

Myocardial infarction (MI) has been considered as the leading cause of cardiovascular-related deaths worldwide. Although traditional therapeutic agents including various bioactive species such as growth factors, stem cells, and nucleic acids have demonstrated somewhat usefulness for the restoration of cardiac functions, the therapeutic efficiency remains unsatisfactory most likely due to the off-target-associated side effects and low localized retention of the used therapeutic agents in the infarcted myocardium, which constitutes a substantial barrier for the effective treatment of MI. Injectable hydrogels are regarded as a minimally invasive technology that can overcome the clinical and surgical limitations of traditional stenting by a modulated sol-gel transition and localized transport of a variety of encapsulated cargoes, leading to enhanced therapeutic efficiency and improved patient comfort and compliance. However, the design of injectable hydrogels for myocardial repair and the mechanism of action of bioactive substance-loaded hydrogels for MI repair remain unclear. To elucidate these points, we summarized the recent progresses made on the use of injectable hydrogels for encapsulation of various therapeutic substances for MI treatment with an emphasis on the mechanism of action of hydrogel systems for myocardial repair. Specifically, the pathogenesis of MI and the rational design of injectable hydrogels for myocardial repair were presented. Next, the mechanisms of various biotherapeutic substance-loaded injectable hydrogels for myocardial repair was discussed. Finally, the potential challenges and future prospects for the use of injectable hydrogels for MI treatment were proposed for the purpose of drawing theoretical guidance on the development of novel therapeutic strategies for efficient treatment of MI.

A Brief Review on the Biology and Effects of Cellular and Circulating microRNAs on Cardiac Remodeling after Infarction

Despite advances in diagnostic, prognostic, and treatment modalities, myocardial infarction (MI) remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Impaired cellular signaling after an MI causes maladaptive changes resulting in cardiac remodeling. MicroRNAs (miRNAs/miR) along with other molecular components have been investigated for their involvement in cellular signaling in the pathogenesis of various cardiac conditions like MI. miRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that negatively regulate gene expression. They bind to complementary mRNAs and regulate the rate of protein synthesis by altering the stability of their targeted mRNAs. A single miRNA can modulate several cellular signaling pathways by targeting hundreds of mRNAs. This review focuses on the biogenesis and beneficial effects of cellular and circulating (exosomal) miRNAs on cardiac remodeling after an MI. Particularly, miR-1, -133, 135, and -29 that play an essential role in cardiac remodeling after an MI are described in detail. The limitations that will need to be addressed in the future for the further development of miRNA-based therapeutics for cardiovascular conditions will also be discussed.

Dexmedetomidine attenuates H2O2-induced apoptosis of rat cardiomyocytes independently of antioxidant enzyme expression

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

Dexmedetomidine is a highly selective alpha-2 adrenoceptor agonist that has sedative and analgesic properties and myocardial protective effects. However, the mechanism underlying the protective effect of dexmedetomidine on cardiomyocytes remains unknown. This study mainly aimed to investigate the effects of dexmedetomidine on the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cardiomyocytes and whether it inhibits the apoptosis of cardiomyocytes by affecting antioxidant enzyme expression.

METHODS

Neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were pretreated with dexmedetomidine (100 nM) for 24 h. The cardiomyocytes were then incubated with 200 μM hydrogen peroxide solution (H₂O₂) for 4 h. PCR assay was used to determine the mRNA expression of antioxidant enzymes. Western blot assay was used to determine the protein expression of antioxidant enzymes. Fluorescence microscopy with the MitoSOX probe was used to detect the formation of ROS in cardiomyocytes, and fluorescence-activated cell sorting with annexin V/PI was used to determine the number of apoptotic cardiomyocytes.

RESULTS

Dexmedetomidine reduced ROS generation and antioxidant enzymes levels in cardiomyocytes before H₂O₂ stimulation (p<0.05). However, ROS generation and apoptosis in cardiomyocytes were significantly increased after H₂O₂ treatment, and dexmedetomidine pretreatment markedly inhibited the changes (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

For the first time, to the best of our knowledge, our study shows that dexmedetomidine has a protective effect on cardiomyocytes through inhibition of ROS-induced apoptosis, and more importantly, this effect is independent of antioxidant enzyme mRNA and protein expression.

MiR-599 Protects Cardiomyocytes against Oxidative Stress-Induced Pyroptosis

Oxidative stress is a crucial factor and key promoter of a variety of cardiovascular diseases associated with cardiomyocyte injury. Emerging literatures suggest that pyroptosis plays a key role in cardiac damages. However, whether pyroptosis contributes to cardiomyocyte injury under oxidative stress and the underlying molecular mechanisms are totally unclear. This study was designed to investigate the potential role of pyroptosis in H₂O₂-induced cardiomyocyte injury and to elucidate the potential mechanisms. Primary cardiomyocytes from neonatal Wistar rats were utilized. These myocytes were treated with different concentrations of H₂O₂ (25, 50, and 100 μM) for 24 h to induce oxidative injury. Our results indicated that mRNA and protein levels of ASC were remarkably upregulated and caspase-1 was activated. Moreover, the expressions of inflammatory factors IL-1β and IL-18 were also increased. Luciferase assay showed that miR-599 inhibited ASC expression through complementary binding with its 3'UTR. MiR-599 expression was substantially reduced in H₂O₂-treated cardiomyocytes. Upregulation of miR-599 inhibited cardiomyocyte pyroptosis under oxidative stress, and opposite results were found by decreasing the expression of miR-599. Consistently, miR-599 overexpression ameliorated cardiomyocyte injury caused by H₂O₂. Therefore, miR-599 could be a promising therapeutic approach for the management of cardiac injury under oxidative condition.

Treatment of Oxidative Stress with Exosomes in Myocardial Ischemia

A thrombus in a coronary artery causes ischemia, which eventually leads to myocardial infarction (MI) if not removed. However, removal generates reactive oxygen species (ROS), which causes ischemia–reperfusion (I/R) injury that damages the tissue and exacerbates the resulting MI. The mechanism of I/R injury is currently extensively understood. However, supplementation of exogenous antioxidants is ineffective against oxidative stress (OS). Enhancing the ability of endogenous antioxidants may be a more effective way to treat OS, and exosomes may play a role as targeted carriers. Exosomes are nanosized vesicles wrapped in biofilms which contain various complex RNAs and proteins. They are important intermediate carriers of intercellular communication and material exchange. In recent years, diagnosis and treatment with exosomes in cardiovascular diseases have gained considerable attention. Herein, we review the new findings of exosomes in the regulation of OS in coronary heart disease, discuss the possibility of exosomes as carriers for the targeted regulation of endogenous ROS generation, and compare the advantages of exosome therapy with those of stem-cell therapy. Finally, we explore several miRNAs found in exosomes against OS.

A meta-analysis of microRNA expression profiling studies in heart failure

Heart failure (HF) is a major consequence of many cardiovascular diseases with high rate of morbidity and mortality. Early diagnosis and prevention are hampered by the lack of informative biomarkers. The aim of this study was to perform a meta-analysis of the miRNA expression profiling studies in HF to identify novel candidate biomarkers or/and therapeutic targets. A comprehensive literature search of the PubMed for miRNA expression studies related to HF was carried out. The vote counting and robust rank aggregation meta-analysis methods were used to identify significant meta-signatures of HF-miRs. The targets of HF-miRs were identified, and network construction and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) were performed to identify the genes and cognitive pathways most affected by the dysregulation of the miRNAs. The literature search identified forty-five miRNA expression studies related to CHF. Shared meta-signature was identified for 3 up-regulated (miR-21, miR-214, and miR-27b) and 13 down-regulated (miR-133a, miR-29a, miR-29b, miR-451, miR-185, miR-133b, miR-30e, miR-30b, miR-1, miR-150, miR-486, miR-149, and miR-16-5p) miRNAs. Network properties showed miR-29a, miR-21, miR-29b, miR-1, miR-16, miR-133a, and miR-133b have the most degree centrality. GESA identified functionally related sets of genes in signaling and community pathways in HF that are the targets of HF-miRs. The miRNA expression meta-analysis identified sixteen highly significant HF-miRs that are differentially expressed in HF. Further validation in large patient cohorts is required to confirm the significance of these miRs as HF biomarkers and therapeutic targets.

MiR-133a-3p relieves the oxidative stress induced trophoblast cell apoptosis through the BACH1/Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway

Preeclampsia (PE) is a major cause of the pregnancy morbidity and mortality over the world. Disorganized placentation caused by trophoblast cell abnormity is one of main risk factors to induce PE. MiR-133a-3p has been shown to contain regulatory effects on oxidative stress in the cardiomyocytes. But the effects of miR-133a-3p on oxidative stress-induced apoptosis in the trophoblast cells remain unknown. In this study, trophoblast HTR-8/SVneo cells were transfected with miR-133a-3p mimics and inhibitor. H2O2 (250 microM) treatment of cells was adopted to induce oxidative stress. A series of typical molecular and cellular experiments was subsequently performed in order to investigate this issue. It was found that miR-133a-3p overexpression attenuated the oxidative stress induced by H2O2 through reduced ROS and MDA levels and enhanced antioxidase activities in the trophoblast cells. Overexpressed miR-133a-3p was shown to relieve the oxidative stress-induced apoptosis of HTR-8/SVneo cells. At molecular levels, a direct binding effect of miR-133a-3p on BACH1 was verified. Moreover, miR-133a-3p overexpression also enhanced BACH1 downstream Nrf2/HO-1 signaling to activate antioxidant genes. It is collectively demonstrated that miR-133a-3p can relieve the oxidative stress-induced apoptosis in the trophoblast cells through the BACH1/Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway via targeting BACH1 directly. This regulatory mechanism of miR-133a-3p in the trophoblast cells under oxidative stress may give a new perspective for oxidative stress-induced trophoblast cell abnormality and be useful to study more pathological mechanisms of PE.

Preclinical Experimental Applications of miRNA Loaded BMSC Extracellular Vesicles

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells have been investigated for many years, especially for tissue regeneration, and have inherent limitations. One of the rapidly developing fields in the scientific world in recent years is extracellular vesicles. Especially, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell originated extracellular vesicles are known to have positive contributions in tissue regeneration, and these extracellular vesicles have also been used as gene transfer systems for cellular therapy. Through gene expression analysis and bioinformatics tools, it is possible to determine which genes have changed in the targeted tissue or cell and which miRNAs that can correct this gene expression disorder. This approach connecting the stem cell, extracellular vesicles, epigenetics regulation and bioinformatics fields is one of the promising areas for the treatment of diseases in the future. With this review, it is aimed to present the studies carried out for the use of bone marrow stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles loaded with targeted miRNAs in different in vivo and in vitro human disease models and to discuss recent developments in this field.

Targeted delivery of extracellular vesicles in heart injury

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nanoscale extracellular vesicles derived from endocytosis that are crucial to intercellular communication. EVs possess natural biocompatibility and stability that allow them to cross biological membranes and that protect them from degradation. Recent studies have shown that EVs-mediated crosstalk between different cell types in the heart could play important roles in the maintenance of cardiac homeostasis and the pathogenesis of heart diseases. In particular, EVs secreted by different types of stem cells exhibit cardioprotective effects. However, numerous studies have shown that intravenously injected EVs are quickly cleared by macrophages of the mononuclear phagocyte system (MPS) and preferentially accumulate in MPS organs such as the liver, spleen, and lung. In this review, we discuss exosome biogenesis, the role of EVs in heart diseases, and challenges in delivering EVs to the heart. Furthermore, we extensively discuss the targeted delivery of EVs for treating ischemic heart disease. These understandings will aid in the development of effective treatment strategies for heart diseases.

Role of Exosomal miRNAs in Heart Failure

Heart failure is the terminal outcome of the majority of cardiovascular diseases, which lacks specific diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets. It contributes to most of cardiovascular hospitalizations and death despite of the current therapy. Therefore, it is important to explore potential molecules improving the diagnosis and treatment of heart failure. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that have been reported to be involved in regulating processes of heart failure. After the discovery of miRNAs in exosomes, the subcellular distribution analysis of miRNAs is raising researchers' attention. Growing evidence demonstrates that exosomal miRNAs may be promising diagnostic and therapeutic molecules for heart failure. This review summarizes the role of exosomal miRNAs in heart failure in the prospect of molecular and clinical researches.

β-Arrestin as a Therapeutic Target in Heart Failure

Heart failure is a major source of morbidity and mortality, driven, in part, by maladaptive sympathetic hyperactivity in response to poor cardiac output. Current therapies target β-adrenergic and angiotensin II G protein-coupled receptors to reduce adverse cardiac remodeling and improve clinical outcomes; however, there is a pressing need for new therapeutic approaches to preserve cardiac function. β-arrestin is a multifunctional protein which has come under analysis in recent years as a key player in G protein-coupled receptor signal transduction and a potential therapeutic target in heart failure. β-arrestin attenuates β-adrenergic and angiotensin II receptor signaling to limit the deleterious response to excessive sympathetic stimulation while simultaneously transactivating cardioprotective signaling cascades that preserve cardiac structure and function in response to injury. β-arrestin signaling may provide unique advantages compared to classic heart failure treatment approaches, but a number of challenges currently limit clinical applications. In this review, we discuss the role and functions of β-arrestin and the current attempts to develop G protein-coupled receptor agonists biased towards β-arrestin activation. Furthermore, we examine the functional diversity of cardiac β-arrestin isotypes to explore key considerations in the promise of β-arrestin as a pharmacotherapeutic target in heart failure.

Carvedilol Alters Circulating MiR-1 and MiR-214 in Heart Failure

Introduction

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are recognized as major contributors in various cardiovascular diseases, such as heart failure (HF). These small noncoding RNAs that posttranscriptionally control target genes are involved in regulating different pathophysiological processes including cardiac proliferation, ifferentiation, hypertrophy, and fibrosis. Although carvedilol, a β-adrenergic blocker, and a drug of choice in HF produce cytoprotective actions against cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, the mechanisms are poorly understood. Here we proposed that the expression of hypertrophic-specific miRNAs (miR-1, miR-133, miR-208, and miR-214) might be linked to beneficial effects of carvedilol.

Methods

The levels of four hypertrophic-specific miRNAs were measured in the sera of 35 patients with systolic HF receiving carvedilol (treated) and 20 HF patients not receiving any β-blockers (untreated) as well as 17 nonHF individuals (healthy) using quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Systolic HF was defined as left ventricular ejection fraction <50% by transthoracic echocardiography.

Results

We demonstrated that miR-1 and miR-214 were significantly upregulated in the treated group compared to the untreated group (P=0.014 and 5.3-fold, 0.033 and 4.2-fold, respectively). However, miR-133 and miR-208 did not show significant difference in expression between these two study groups. MiR-1 was significantly downregulated in the untreated group compared with healthy individuals (P=0.019 and 0.14-fold).

Conclusion

In conclusion, it might be postulated that one of the mechanisms by which carvedilol may exert its cardioprotective effects can be through increasing miR-1 and miR-214 expressions which may also serve as a potential therapeutic target in patients with systolic HF in future.

Knockdown of circular RNA circMAT2B reduces oxygen-glucose deprivation-induced inflammatory injury in H9c2 cells through up-regulating miR-133

Myocardial infarction (MI) is the main cause of morbidity and mortality. Reperfusion ways can cause damage to cardiomyocytes. CircMAT2B, a novel circRNA, takes positive roles in regulating glucose metabolism under hypoxia. Therefore, we aimed to explore the effects of circMAT2B on MI. Oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD)-induced H9c2 cell model was employed to stimulate MI. Ex-circMAT2B, si-circMAT2B, miR-133 inhibitor and relative control were transfected into H9c2 cells. qRT-PCR was employed to examine levels of circMAT2B and miR-133. Cell activity, apoptosis, ROS generation and release of inflammatory factors were assessed by CCK-8, flow cytometry, ROS species assay kit and ELISA, respectively. Moreover, the expression of apoptosis-related and pathway-related factors was detected through western blot analysis. The results showed that circMAT2B expression was notably up-regulated by OGD treatment. Moreover, circMAT2B knockdown could effectively decrease OGD-induced the increasing of apoptosis, ROS generation and the expression of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α. Besides, miR-133 was positively regulated by si-circMAT2B. CircMAT2B knockdown attenuated OGD-induced H9c2 cell damage and alleviated OGD-induced the inhibition of PI3K/AKT and Raf/MEK/ERK pathways through up-regulating miR-133. In brief, circMAT2B knockdown works as an inflammatory inhibitor in OGD-induced H9c2 cells inflammatory injury through up-regulating miR-133.

Puerarin attenuates the endothelial-mesenchymal transition induced by oxidative stress in human coronary artery endothelial cells through PI3K/AKT pathway

Endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) is a process in which endothelial cells lose their specific morphology/markers and undergo a dramatic remodeling of the cytoskeleton. It has been implicated in the progression of cardiovascular diseases such as cardiac fibrosis and cardiac dysfunction. Recent study indicated that puerarin could inhibit EndMT against cardiac fibrosis. However, the precise role of puerarin in EndMT and the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. EndMT was induced by H₂O₂ (150 μM) in human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAECs). HCAECs were exposed to H₂O₂ for six days with or without puerarin pretreated 2 h. The protein changes of EndMT markers (CD31, VE-cadherin, FSP1 and α-SMA) in HCAECs were detected. The levels of phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K) and protein kinase B (AKT) proteins were analyzed by Western Blot. Wound healing and transwell assay were carried out to examine cell chemotaxis. Puerarin mitigated H₂O₂-induced EndMT as indicated by alleviating the reduced expression of CD31 and VE-cadherin and inhibiting the upregulation of α-SMA and FSP1. Furthermore, the mechanisms study showed that puerarin activated the PI3K/AKT pathway by inhibiting reactive oxygen species and further attenuated EndMT. On the other hand, PI3K inhibitor LY294002 reversed this effect imposed by puerarin. Puerarin alleviated the migration of mesenchymal-like cells through reducing MMPs protein expression. These results implicated that puerarin exhibited cytoprotective effects against H₂O₂-induced EndMT in HCAECs through alleviating oxidative stress, activating the PI3K/AKT pathway and limiting cell migration.

Downregulation of miR-133a contributes to the cardiac developmental toxicity of trichloroethylene in zebrafish

Trichloroethylene (TCE), a widely used organic solvent, is a common environmental pollutant. Increasing evidence indicates that maternal TCE exposure is associated with congenital cardiac defects, but the underlining mechanisms remain largely unknown. In this study, we revealed that TCE exposure significantly induced heart defects and dysfunctions in zebrafish embryos. Heart tissues were dissected and subjected to high throughput sequencing and qPCR to identify differentially expressed miRNAs and mRNAs. The effects of miRNA were further verified by microinjection of antagomir or agomir. Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and cell proliferation were measured by using dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) and EdU staining, respectively. Our results showed that 19 miRNAs were downregulated whereas 48 miRNAs were upregulated in the heart of zebrafish embryos. The downregulation of miR-133a and the upregulation of miR-182 were further validated. Moreover, we found that miR-133a agomir significantly alleviated the TCE-induced heart defects while miR-133a antagomir mimicked the toxic effect of TCE on heart development. Furthermore, miR-133a agomir significantly counteracted TCE-induced ROS production and excessive cell proliferation in the heart of zebrafish embryos. In conclusion, our results indicate that miR-133a mediates TCE-induced ROS generation, leading to excessive cell proliferation and heart defects.

RGD-PEG-PLA Delivers MiR-133 to Infarct Lesions of Acute Myocardial Infarction Model Rats for Cardiac Protection

Studies have shown that microRNA-133 (miR-133) plays a positive role in the growth of cardiac myocytes, the maintenance of cardiac homeostasis, and the recovery of cardiac function, which is of great significance for the recovery of acute myocardial infarction. However, the delivery of miRNA to the site of action remains a challenge at present. The purpose of this study was to design an ideal carrier to facilitate the delivery of miR-133 to the infarct lesion for cardiac protection. A disease model was constructed by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery of rats, and polyethylene glycol (PEG)-polylactic acid (PLA) nanoparticles modified with arginine-glycine-aspartic acid tripeptide (RGD) carrying miR-133 were injected via the tail vein. The effects of miR-133 were evaluated from multiple perspectives, including cardiac function, blood indexes, histopathology, and myocardial cell apoptosis. The results showed that RGD-PEG-PLA maintained a high level of distribution in the hearts of model rats, indicating the role of the carrier in targeting the heart infarction lesions. RGD-PEG-PLA/miR-133 alleviated cardiac histopathological changes, reduced the apoptosis of cardiomyocytes, and reduced the levels of factors associated with myocardial injury. Studies on the mechanism of miR-133 by immunohistochemistry and polymerase chain reaction demonstrated that the expression level of Sirtuin3 (SIRT3) was increased and that the expression of adenosine monophosphate activated protein kinase (AMPK) decreased in myocardial tissue. In summary, the delivery of miR-133 by RGD-PEG-PLA carrier can achieve cardiac lesion accumulation, thereby improving the cardiac function damage and reducing the myocardial infarction area. The inhibition of cardiomyocyte apoptosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress plays a protective role in the heart. The mechanism may be related to the regulation of the SIRT3/AMPK pathway.

Practical recommendations for the use of beta-blockers in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

INTRODUCTION

Controversies regarding the use of beta-blocker in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have been longstanding and based on inconsistent data. COPD and cardiovascular disease have many shared risk factors and potentially overlapping pathophysiologic mechanisms. Beta-blockers, a mainstay of treatment in ischemic heart disease, congestive heart failure, and cardiac arrhythmia, remain underutilized in COPD patients despite considerable evidence of safety. Furthermore, observational studies indicated the potential benefits of beta-blockers in COPD via a variety of possible mechanisms. Recently, a randomized controlled trial of metoprolol versus placebo failed to show a reduction in COPD exacerbation risk in subjects with moderate to severe COPD and no absolute indication for beta-blocker use.

AREAS COVERED

Physiology of beta-adrenergic receptors, links between COPD and cardiovascular disease, and the role of beta-blockers in COPD management are discussed.

EXPERT COMMENTARY

Beta-blockers should not be used to treat COPD patients who do not have conditions with clear guideline-directed recommendations for their use. Vigilance is recommended in prescribing these medications for indications where another drug class could be utilized.

Endothelial to mesenchymal transition contributes to nicotine-induced atherosclerosis

Rationale: Nicotine exposure via cigarette smoking is strongly associated with atherosclerosis. However, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. The current study aimed to identify whether endothelial to mesenchymal transition (EndMT) contributes to nicotine-induced atherosclerosis. Methods: ApoE-/- mice were administered nicotine in their drinking water for 12 weeks. The effects of nicotine on EndMT were determined by immunostaining on aortic root and RNA analysis in aortic intima. In vitro nicotine-treated cell model was established on human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs). The effects of nicotine on the expression of EndMT-related markers, ERK1/2 and Snail were quantified by real-time PCR, western blot and immunofluorescent staining. Results: Nicotine treatment resulted in larger atherosclerotic plaques in ApoE-/- mice. The vascular endothelial cells from nicotine-treated mice showed mesenchymal phenotype, indicating EndMT. Moreover, nicotine-induced EndMT process was accompanied by cytoskeleton reorganization and impaired barrier function. The α7 nicotine acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR) was highly expressed in HAECs and its antagonist could effectively relieve nicotine-induced EndMT and atherosclerotic lesions in mice. Further experiments revealed that ERK1/2 signaling was activated by nicotine, which led to the upregulation of Snail. Blocking ERK1/2 with inhibitor or silencing Snail by small interfering RNA efficiently preserved endothelial phenotype upon nicotine stimulation. Conclusion: Our study provides evidence that EndMT contributes to the pro-atherosclerotic property of nicotine. Nicotine induces EndMT through α7nAChR-ERK1/2-Snail signaling in endothelial cells. EndMT may be a therapeutic target for smoking-related endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular disease.

Carvedilol and metoprolol are both able to preserve myocardial function in type 2 diabetes

PURPOSE

Increasing cohorts of patients present with diabetic cardiomyopathy, and with no targeted options, treatment often rely on generic pharmaceuticals such as β-blockers. β-blocker efficacy is heterogenous, with second generation β-blocker metoprolol selectively inhibiting β₁ -AR, while third generation β-blocker carvedilol has α₁ -AR inhibition, antioxidant, and anti-apoptotic actions alongside nonselective β-AR inhibition. These additional properties have led to the hypothesis that carvedilol may improve cardiac contractility in the diabetic heart to a greater extent than metoprolol. The present study aimed to compare the efficacy of metoprolol and carvedilol on myocardial function in animal models and cardiac tissue from patients with type 2 diabetes and preserved ejection fraction.

METHODS

Echocardiographic examination of cardiac function and assessment of myocardial function in isolated trabeculae was carried out in patients with and without diabetes undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) who were prescribed metoprolol or carvedilol. Equivalent measures were undertaken in Zucker Diabetic Fatty (ZDF) rats following 4 weeks treatment with metoprolol or carvedilol.

RESULTS

Patients receiving carvedilol compared to metoprolol had no difference in cardiac function, and no difference was apparent in myocardial function between β-blockers. Both β-blockers similarly improved myocardial function in diabetic ZDF rats treated for 4 weeks, without significantly affecting in vivo cardiac function.

CONCLUSIONS

Metoprolol and carvedilol were found to have no effect on cardiac function in type 2 diabetes with preserved ejection fraction, and were similarly effective in preventing myocardial dysfunction in ZDF rats.

Non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy and cardiac fibrosis

Cardiac fibrosis is associated with non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy, increasing its morbidity and mortality. Cardiac fibroblast is the keystone of fibrogenesis, being activated by numerous cellular and humoral factors. Macrophages, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, mast cells, and endothelial cells stimulate fibrogenesis directly by activating cardiac fibroblasts and indirectly by synthetizing various profibrotic molecules. The synthesis of type 1 and type 3 collagen, fibronectin, and α-smooth muscle actin is rendered by various mechanisms like transforming growth factor-beta/small mothers against decapentaplegic pathway, renin angiotensin system, and estrogens, which in turn alter the extracellular matrix. Investigating the underlying mechanisms will allow the development of diagnostic and prognostic tools and discover novel specific therapies. Serum biomarkers aid in the diagnosis and tracking of cardiac fibrosis progression. The diagnostic gold standard is cardiac magnetic resonance with gadolinium administration that allows quantification of cardiac fibrosis either by late gadolinium enhancement assessment or by T1 mapping. Therefore, the goal is to stop and even reverse cardiac fibrosis by developing specific therapies that directly target fibrogenesis, in addition to the drugs used to treat heart failure. Cardiac resynchronization therapy had shown to revert myocardial remodeling and to reduce cardiac fibrosis. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of currently available data.

Dexrazoxane Protects Cardiomyocyte from Doxorubicin-Induced Apoptosis by Modulating miR-17-5p

The usage of doxorubicin is hampered by its life-threatening cardiotoxicity in clinical practice. Dexrazoxane is the only cardioprotective medicine approved by the FDA for preventing doxorubicin-induced cardiac toxicity. Nevertheless, the mechanism of dexrazoxane is incompletely understood. The aim of our study is to investigate the possible molecular mechanism of dexrazoxane against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity. We established a doxorubicin-induced mouse and cardiomyocyte injury model. Male C57BL/6J mice were randomly distributed into a control group (Con), a doxorubicin treatment group (DOX), a doxorubicin plus dexrazoxane treatment group (DOX+DEX), and a dexrazoxane treatment group (DEX). Echocardiography and histology analyses were performed to evaluate heart function and structure. DNA laddering, qRT-PCR, and Western blot were performed on DOX-treated cardiomyocytes with/without DEX treatment in vitro. Cardiomyocytes were then transfected with miR-17-5p mimics or inhibitors in order to analyze its downstream target. Our results demonstrated that dexrazoxane has a potent effect on preventing cardiac injury induced by doxorubicin in vivo and in vitro by reducing cardiomyocyte apoptosis. MicroRNA plays an important role in cardiovascular diseases. Our data revealed that dexrazoxane could upregulate the expression of miR-17-5p, which plays a cytoprotective role in response to hypoxia by regulating cell apoptosis. Furthermore, the miRNA and protein analysis revealed that miR-17-5p significantly attenuated phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) expression in cardiomyocytes exposed to doxorubicin. Taken together, dexrazoxane might exert a cardioprotective effect against doxorubicin-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis by regulating the expression of miR-17-5p/PTEN cascade.

Metoprolol protects against myocardial infarction by inhibiting miR-1 expression in rats

OBJECTIVES

Metoprolol is regarded as a first-line medicine for the treatment of myocardial infarction (MI). However, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. This study aimed to investigate the involvement of miR-1 in the pharmacological function of metoprolol.

METHODS

In vivo MI model was established by left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) ligation. The effects of metoprolol on infarct size and cardiac dysfunction were determined by triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining and cardiac echocardiography, respectively. In vitro oxidative stress cardiomyocyte model was established by H₂ O₂ treatment. The effect of metoprolol on the expression of miR-1 and connexin43 (Cx43) was quantified by real-time PCR and western blot, respectively. The intercellular communication was evaluated by lucifer yellow dye diffusion.

KEY FINDINGS

Left anterior descending ligation-induced MI injury was markedly attenuated by metoprolol as shown by reduced infarct size and better cardiac function. Metoprolol reversed the up-regulation of miR-1 and down-regulation of Cx43 in MI heart. Moreover, in H₂ O₂ -stimulated cardiomyocytes, overexpression of miR-1 abolished the effects of metoprolol on Cx43 up-regulation and increased intercellular communication, indicating that miR-1 may be a necessary mediator for the cardiac protective function of metoprolol.

CONCLUSIONS

Metoprolol relieves MI injury via suppression miR-1, thus increasing its target protein Cx43 and improving intercellular communication.

MicroRNAs as Potential Biomarkers in Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is a complex multifactorial disease that, despite advances in lifestyle management and drug therapy, remains to be the major cause of high morbidity and mortality rates from cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in industrialized countries. Therefore, there is a great need in reliable diagnostic/prognostic biomarkers and effective treatment alternatives to reduce its burden. It was established that microRNAs (miRNAs/miRs), a class of non-coding single-stranded RNA molecules, can regulate the expression of genes at the post-transcriptional level and, accordingly, coordinate the cellular protein expression. Thus, they are involved not only in cell-specific physiological functions but also in the cellular and molecular mechanisms of human pathologies, including atherosclerosis. MiRNAs may be significant in the dysregulation that affects endothelial integrity, the function of vascular smooth muscle and inflammatory cells, and cellular cholesterol homeostasis that drives the initiation and growth of an atherosclerotic plaque. Besides, distinct expression patterns of several miRNAs are attributed to atherosclerotic and cardiovascular patients. In this article, the evidence indicating the multiple critical roles of miRNAs and their relevant molecular mechanisms related to atherosclerosis development and progression was reviewed. Moreover, the effects of miRNAs on atherosclerosis enabled to exploit them as novel diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets that may lead to better management of atherosclerosis and CVDs.

MicroRNAs in Cardiac Diseases

Since their discovery 20 years ago, microRNAs have been related to posttranscriptional regulation of gene expression in major cardiac physiological and pathological processes. We know now that cardiac muscle phenotypes are tightly regulated by multiple noncoding RNA species to maintain cardiac homeostasis. Upon stress or various pathological conditions, this class of non-coding RNAs has been found to modulate different cardiac pathological conditions, such as contractility, arrhythmia, myocardial infarction, hypertrophy, and inherited cardiomyopathies. This review summarizes and updates microRNAs playing a role in the different processes underlying the pathogenic phenotypes of cardiac muscle and highlights their potential role as disease biomarkers and therapeutic targets.

MicroRNA-133a and Myocardial Infarction

Myocardial infarction (MI) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the world. The infarcted heart displays typical cell death cascades characterized by a loss of cells and fibrotic scarring in the myocardium. Cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis largely contribute to ventricular wall thickening and stiffening, altogether defining an adverse cardiac remodeling that ultimately leads to impaired cardiac function and subsequent heart failure. Finding a strategy to promote therapeutic, instead of detrimental, cardiac remodeling may pose as a potent MI treatment. Accumulating evidence shows that microRNAs (miRNAs) may play an essential role in cardiovascular diseases. In particular, microRNA-133a (miR-133a) is one of the most abundant miRNAs in the heart. Multiple studies have demonstrated that miR-133a participates in the early pathology of MI, as well as in subsequent cardiac remodeling. In this review, we summarize recent research progress highlighting the regulatory effects of miR-133a in ischemic myocardial diseases, such as inhibiting angiogenesis, apoptosis, fibrosis, hypertrophy, and inflammation, while promoting therapeutic cardiac remodeling. The goal is to elicit a critical discussion on the translational direction of miRNA-mediated treatments towards a safe and effective MI therapy.

Aloe-emodin attenuates myocardial infarction and apoptosis via up-regulating miR-133 expression

Aloe-emodin (AE) is an anthraquinone derived from rhubarb and has a variety of pharmacological actions. However, the role of AE in regulating ischemic heart diseases is still unclear. The present study investigated the effect of AE on cardiac injuries induced by myocardial infarction (MI) in vivo and oxidative insults in vitro and explored the mechanisms involved. TUNEL and Flow cytometry were performed to measure cell apoptosis. Western blot analysis was employed to detect expression of Bcl-2, Bax and Caspase-3 proteins. Real-time PCR was used to quantify the microRNAs levels. Our data showed that AE protected neonatal rat ventricular myocytes (NRVMs) from hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) induced apoptosis and significantly inhibited H₂O₂-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) elevation. Furthermore, AE treatment significantly reversed H₂O₂-induced upregulation of Bax/Bcl-2 and the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. In vivo, AE treatment significantly reduced infarct size, ameliorated impaired cardiac function and obviously decreased cardiac apoptosis and oxidative stress in MI mice heart. Meanwhile, AE restored H₂O₂-induced downregulation of miR-133, and transfection with miR-133 inhibitor abolished the anti-apoptotic and anti-oxidative effects of AE. Moreover, AE prevented H₂O₂-induced increase in caspase-3 activity, which was diminished by application of miR-133 inhibitor. Our results indicate that AE protectes against myocardial infarction via the upregulation of miR-133, inhibition of ROS production and suppression of caspase-3 apoptotic signaling pathway.

Emodin improves glucose metabolism by targeting microRNA-20b in insulin-resistant skeletal muscle

BACKGROUND

Emerging evidence has indicated the therapeutic potential of emodin with its multiple pharmacological effects.

PURPOSE

To evaluate role of emodin in regulating insulin resistance (IR) and to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms.

STUDY DESIGN/METHODS

Fasting blood glucose (FBG) and lipid levels were measured before and after intragastric administration of emodin in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) rats. Glucose consumption was determined in L6 cells to investigate the effect of emodin on glucose metabolism. Expression of miR-20b and SMAD7 was quantified by real-time PCR for mRNAs or western blot analysis for proteins.

RESULTS

Emodin ameliorated hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia in T2DM rats, and glucose metabolism in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. MiR-20b was markedly upregulated in the setting of IR and overexpression of miR-20b disrupted glucose metabolism by repressing SMAD7 in L6 cells. Knockdown of this miRNA produced the opposite effects. Emodin abolished the abnormal upregulation of miR-20b and indirectly upregulated SMAD7.

CONCLUSION

Emodin improves glucose metabolism to produce anti-IR effects, and downregulation of miR-20b thereby upregulation of SMAD7 is an underlying mechanism for the beneficial effects of emodin.

RNA-Seq analysis and functional characterization revealed lncRNA NONRATT007560.2 regulated cardiomyocytes oxidative stress and apoptosis induced by high glucose

Hyperglycemia in diabetic patients would cause cardiomyocytes oxidative stress and apoptosis due to the excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, leading to progressive deterioration of cardiac structure and function. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play essential roles on controlling oxidative stress and apoptotic activity. In the present study, RNA sequencing was used to detect the differentially expressed lncRNAs during high glucose-induced cardiomyocytes oxidative stress and apoptosis. A total of 306/400 lncRNAs were identified as differentially expressed, including 156/198 lncRNAs with increased expression and 150/202 lncRNAs with decreased expression at 24 hours/48 hours after high-glucose stimulation respectively. Among these dysregulated lncRNAs, 45 lncRNAs were consistently differentially expressed in cardiomyocytes at both two time points after high-glucose stimulation. Twenty lncRNAs were upregulated and 25 lncRNAs were downregulated at both 24 hours and 48 hours, respectively. The top three upregulated lncRNAs, NONRATT029805.2, NONRATT007560.2, and NONRATT002486.2 were selected for functional studies to determine the role in oxidative stress-related apoptosis. The results showed that inhibition of non-ratt007560.2 could abate the formation of ROS and reduce apoptosis, suggesting NONRATT007560.2 might play critical roles in the development of cardiomyopathy. The dysregulated lncRNAs might participate in regulating cardiomyocytes oxidative stress and apoptosis. These findings would be important theoretical and experimental basis for investigation on diabetic cardiomyopathy pathogenesis.

MicroRNA‑1 downregulation induced by carvedilol protects cardiomyocytes against apoptosis by targeting heat shock protein 60

Myocardial infarction (MI) is the most common event in cardiovascular disease. Carvedilol, a β‑blocker with multiple pleiotropic actions, is widely used for the treatment cardiovascular diseases. However, the underlying mechanisms of carvedilol on alleviating MI are not fully understood. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the beneficial effects of carvedilol were associated with regulation of microRNA‑1 (miR‑1). It was demonstrated that carvedilol ameliorated impaired cardiac function and decreased infarct size in a rat model of MI induced by coronary artery occlusion. Similarly, carvedilol reversed the H2O2‑induced decrease in cardiomyocyte viability in a dose‑dependent manner. The in vivo and in vitro models demonstrated the downregulation of miR‑1 following treatment with carvedilol. Overexpression of miR‑1, a known pro‑apoptotic miRNA, decreased cell viability and induced cell apoptosis. Transfection of miR‑1 abolished the beneficial effects of carvedilol. The expression of heat shock protein 60 (HSP60), a direct target of miR‑1, was identified to be decreased in MI and H2O2‑induced apoptosis, which was associated with a decrease in Bcl‑2 and an increase in Bax; expression was restored following treatment with carvedilol. It was concluded that carvedilol partially exhibited its beneficial effects by downregulating miR‑1 and increasing HSP60 expression. miR‑1 has become a member of the group of carvedilol‑responsive miRNAs. Future studies are required to fully elucidate the potential overlapping or compensatory effects of known carvedilol‑responsive miRNAs and their underlying mechanisms of action in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular diseases.

Redox Regulation and Noncoding RNAs

SIGNIFICANCE

RNA is a heterogeneous class of molecules with the minority being protein coding. Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) are involved in translation and epigenetic control mechanisms of gene expression. Recent Advances: In recent years, the number of identified ncRNAs has dramatically increased and it is now clear that ncRNAs provide a complex layer of differential gene expression control.

CRITICAL ISSUES

NcRNAs exhibit interplay with redox regulation. Redox regulation alters the expression of ncRNAs; conversely, ncRNAs alter the expression of generator and effector systems of redox regulation in a complex manner, which will be the focus of this review article.

FUTURE DIRECTIONS

Understanding the role of ncRNA in redox control will lead to the development of new strategies to alter redox programs. Given that many ncRNAs (particularly microRNAs [miRNAs]) change large gene sets, these molecules are attractive drug candidates; already, now miRNAs can be targeted in patients. Therefore, the development of ncRNA therapies focusing on these molecules is an attractive future strategy. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 29, 793-812.

miR-133: A Suppressor of Cardiac Remodeling?

Cardiac remodeling, which is characterized by mechanical and electrical remodeling, is a significant pathophysiological process involved in almost all forms of heart diseases. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a group of non-coding RNAs of 20–25 nucleotides in length that primarily regulate gene expression by promoting mRNA degradation or post-transcriptional repression in a sequence-specific manner. Three miR-133 genes have been identified in the human genome, miR-133a-1, miR-133a-2, and miR-133b, which are located on chromosomes 18, 20, and 6, respectively. These miRNAs are mainly expressed in muscle tissues and appear to repress the expression of non-muscle genes. Based on accumulating evidence, miR-133 participates in the proliferation, differentiation, survival, hypertrophic growth, and electrical conduction of cardiac cells, which are essential for cardiac fibrosis, cardiac hypertrophy, and arrhythmia. Nevertheless, the roles of miR-133 in cardiac remodeling are ambiguous, and the mechanisms are also sophisticated, involving many target genes and signaling pathways, such as RhoA, MAPK, TGFβ/Smad, and PI3K/Akt. Therefore, in this review, we summarize the critical roles of miR-133 and its potential mechanisms in cardiac remodeling.

MicroRNA-532 protects the heart in acute myocardial infarction, and represses prss23, a positive regulator of endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition

Aims

Acute myocardial infarction (MI) leads to cardiac remodelling and development of heart failure. Insufficient myocardial capillary density after MI is considered a critical determinant of this process. MicroRNAs (miRs), negative regulators of gene expression, have emerged as important players in MI. We previously showed that miR-532-5p (miR-532) is up-regulated by the β-arrestin-biased β-adrenergic receptor antagonist (β-blocker) carvedilol, which activates protective pathways in the heart independent of G protein-mediated second messenger signalling. Here, we hypothesize that β2-adrenergic receptor/β-arrestin-responsive miR-532 confers cardioprotection against MI.

Methods and results

Using cultured cardiac endothelial cell (CEC) and in vivo approaches, we show that CECs lacking miR-532 exhibit increased transition to a fibroblast-like phenotype via endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT), while CECs over-expressing miR-532 display decreased EndMT. We also demonstrate that knockdown of miR-532 in mice causes abnormalities in cardiac structure and function as well as reduces CEC proliferation and cardiac vascularization after MI. Mechanistically, cardioprotection elicited by miR-532 is in part attributed to direct repression of a positive regulator of maladaptive EndMT, prss23 (a protease serine 23) in CECs.

Conclusions

In conclusion, these findings reveal a pivotal role for miR-532-prss23 axis in regulating CEC function after MI, and this novel axis could be suitable for therapeutic intervention in ischemic heart disease.

Gestational Hypoxia and Developmental Plasticity

Hypoxia is one of the most common and severe challenges to the maintenance of homeostasis. Oxygen sensing is a property of all tissues, and the response to hypoxia is multidimensional involving complicated intracellular networks concerned with the transduction of hypoxia-induced responses. Of all the stresses to which the fetus and newborn infant are subjected, perhaps the most important and clinically relevant is that of hypoxia. Hypoxia during gestation impacts both the mother and fetal development through interactions with an individual's genetic traits acquired over multiple generations by natural selection and changes in gene expression patterns by altering the epigenetic code. Changes in the epigenome determine "genomic plasticity," i.e., the ability of genes to be differentially expressed according to environmental cues. The genomic plasticity defined by epigenomic mechanisms including DNA methylation, histone modifications, and noncoding RNAs during development is the mechanistic substrate for phenotypic programming that determines physiological response and risk for healthy or deleterious outcomes. This review explores the impact of gestational hypoxia on maternal health and fetal development, and epigenetic mechanisms of developmental plasticity with emphasis on the uteroplacental circulation, heart development, cerebral circulation, pulmonary development, and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and adipose tissue. The complex molecular and epigenetic interactions that may impact an individual's physiology and developmental programming of health and disease later in life are discussed.