miR-146b Nanoparticles Alleviate Aortic Dissection via Targeting of Phosphoinositide-3-Kinase–Protein Kinase B (PI3K/Akt) Signaling Pathway

Abstract

Aortic dissection (AD) has a rapid onset and a high mortality. This study explored mechanism of miR-146b and PI3k/Akt on aortic dissection. Human aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (T/GHA-VSMC) were assigned into blank group, empty vector group, miR-146b group and miR-146b group with nanoparticles as carrier (vector+miR-146b group), followed by analysis of cell proliferation, apoptosis and migration. Results showed that, expressions of PI3k/Akt, miR-146b and cell proliferation in the empty vector, miR-146b, and vector+miR-146b groups were lower than in the blank group (P <0.05), with lowest expression level in the empty vector group (P <0.05). Moreover, cell apoptosis was increased (P <0.05) and migration ability was decreased (P <0.05) after transfection, and miR-146b was found to target the PI3k/Akt. Nanoparticle-mediated miR-146b can inhibit the proliferation and migration of T/GHA-VSMC in AD patients, which is related to PI3k/Akt signaling. miR-146b may become a potential molecular target for AD, which can alleviate the occurrence and development of AD.