Affiliation:
1. Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, 200032, Shanghai, China
2. Department of Cardiology, Zoucheng Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, 273500, Jining, Shandong, China
Abstract
Background and Objective:
Angiogenesis is the most important repair process of tissues subjected
to ischemic injury. The present study aims to investigate whether the pro-angiogenic effect of Qiliqiangxin prescription
(QL) is mediated through miR-21 signaling.
Methods:
Cardiac microvascular endothelial cells (CMECs) were isolated and cultured from 2-3 weeks old SD
rats by the method of planting myocardium tissues. The purity was identified by CD31 immunofluorescence
staining. CMECs were then cultured under 1% O2 hypoxia or normoxia condition for 24h in the presence or
absence of QL pretreatment (QL, 0.5mg/ml, 24h). The mimics and inhibitors of miR-21 were transfected into
CMECs. miR-21, HIF-1α, and VEGF expressions of CMECs were then detected by qRT-PCR and/or Western
blot. The proliferation, migration, and tube formation functions of CMECs were assessed using the BrdU assay,
wound healing test, and tube formation assay, respectively.
Results:
The results showed that compared with the control group, hypoxia significantly upregulated the expression
of miR-21 and impaired CMECs proliferation, migration, and tube formation functions. Compared with
the hypoxia group, QL further upregulated miR-21, HIF-1α, and VEGF expressions, and improved cell proliferation,
migration, and tube formation of hypoxic CMECs. These effects of QL were abolished by a knockdown
of miR-21. Conversely, treatment with miR-21 mimics further enhanced QL induced changes in hypoxic
CMECs.
Conclusions:
Results indicate that the pro-angiogenesis effects of QL on hypoxic CMECs are mediated by activating
miR-21 and its downstream HIF-1α/VEGF pathway possibly.
Funder
Shanghai Municipal Commission of Health and Family Planning
National Basic Research Program of China
Outstanding Academic Leaders supported by Shanghai Science and Technology Commission
National Natural Science Foundation of China
Publisher
Bentham Science Publishers Ltd.
Subject
Drug Discovery,Pharmacology