MicroRNA-124 regulates cardiomyocyte apoptosis and myocardial infarction through targeting Dhcr24. (July 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Han, Fei; Chen, Qishan; Su, Jia; Zheng, Ancheng; Chen, Kai; Sun, Shasha; Wu, Hong; Jiang, Liujun; Xu, Xiaolei; Yang, Mei; Yang, Feng; Zhu, Jianhua; Zhang, Li
• Is Part Of: Journal of molecular and cellular cardiology. Volume 132(2019)
• Page Start: 178
• Page End: 188
• Publication Date: 2019-07
• Subjects: Cardiology -- Periodicals; Heart Diseases -- Periodicals; Molecular Biology -- Periodicals; Cardiologie -- Périodiques; Cardiology; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 616.12
• DOI: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2019.05.007
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-2828

Abstract

Abstract: Aims: microRNA-124(miR-124) has recently been reported to be elevated in cardiovascular disease. In this study, we aimed to investigate the exact role of miR-124 in cardiomyocytes and myocardial infarction, identifying the functional target and its regulatory mechanisms. Methods and results: Cultured cardiomyocytes, myocardial-infarction mouse model, and clinical data were used to study the effects of miR-124 on myocardial ischemia. Expression of miR-124 was up-regulated in H2 O2 and hypoxia induced cardiomyocyte injury. miR-124 over-expression significantly increased cardiomyocyte apoptosis, whereas miR-124 inhibition attenuated cell death. 3β-hydroxysteroid-Delta24 reductase (Dhcr24), a multi-functional enzyme implicated in cholesterol synthesis and various diseases, was identified as a novel functional target of miR-124 in cardiac myocytes. The miR-124-Dhcr24 axis was responsible for cardiomyocyte apoptosis regulation. Furthermore, myocardial infarction induced miR-124 activation and Dhcr24 reduction in vivo . Modulation of miR-124 by intra-myocardial injection of agomiR or antagomiR was capable of manipulating cardiomyocyte apoptosis and myocardial infarction in mice. More importantly, circulating miR-124 was also observed to be elevated in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients and was correlated with myocardial injury and cardiac function. Conclusion: Our findings strongly demonstrated that miR-124 targeting Dhcr24 regulates oxidative stress and hypoxia induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis and myocardial infarction. The miR-124-Dhcr24 axis could be a potential biomarker as well as the therapeutic target for AMI.