Functional Network Analysis Reveals Versatile MicroRNAs in Human Heart.

BACKGROUND: Acting on many mRNAs allows the power of a single miRNA to modulate multiple pathophysiological phenotypes. One question is whether versatile miRNAs exist in the pathological scenarios of myocardial infarction (MI) and heart failure (HF).

METHODS: A hypergeometric analysis, in combination with network-based functional analyses, was performed on the available human protein interaction and miRNA-gene association data to highlight versatile miRNAs among the significantly dysregulated miRNAs in MI and HF. In vivo, mice models of MI and HF were then established to investigate whether dysregulated expression be undertaken by versatile miRNA identified here.

RESULTS: Systematic analyses really identified the previously validated miRNAs that have been verified of multiple important roles in MI and HF, demonstrating method effectiveness. By using this means, we innovatively revealed the vital role of miR-7 in maintaining the dynamic balance of protein interactions and its obvious overexpression in MI and HF that implies pathological involvement. Functional experiments are definitely needed for further revealing its potential influences on MI- or HF-led myocardial injury.

CONCLUSION: Our results have implications not only for the coming miRNA-based strategy in treating MI and HF but also for further understanding on gene regulation by miRNAs in human heart.