MicroRNA

RATIONALE: MicroRNAs (miRNAs), in particular miR-29b and miR-30c, have been implicated as important regulators of cardiac fibrosis. OBJECTIVE: To perform a proteomics comparison of miRNA effects on extracellular matrix secretion by cardiac fibroblasts. METHODS AND RESULTS: Mouse cardiac fibroblasts were transfected with pre-/anti-miR of miR-29b and miR-30c, and their conditioned medium was analyzed by mass spectrometry. miR-29b targeted a cadre of proteins involved in fibrosis, including multiple collagens, matrix metalloproteinases, and leukemia inhibitory factor, insulin-like growth factor 1, and pentraxin 3, 3 predicted targets of miR-29b...

BACKGROUND: Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory vascular disease driven by the subendothelial accumulation of macrophages. The mechanism regulating the inflammatory response in macrophages during atherogenesis remains unclear. Because microRNAs (miRNAs) play a crucial role in cellular signaling by posttranscriptional regulation of gene expression, we studied the miRNA expression profiles during the progression of atherosclerosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: Using an miRNA real-time polymerase chain reaction array, we found that macrophage-derived miR-342-5p and miR-155 are selectively upregulated in early atherosclerotic lesions in Apoe(-/-) mice...

Nebivolol is a selective β1-blocker with nitric oxide-enhancing effects. MicroRNAs are small noncoding RNA molecules that downregulate gene expression. We compared the effects of nebivolol and atenolol, a first generation β1-selective blocker, on left ventricular hypertrophy, fibrosis, and function and microRNA expression in a rodent model of hypertension. Dahl salt-sensitive rats received either low-salt chow (control) or AIN-76A high-salt (8% NaCl) diet and randomized to vehicle (high-salt), nebivolol (20 mg/kg per day), or atenolol (50 mg/kg per day) for 8 weeks...

MicroRNAs refer to a subfamily of small non-coding RNA species that are designed to influence gene expression in nearly all cell types studied to date. Studies from the past decade have demonstrated that microRNAs are atypically expressed in the cardiovascular system under specific pathological conditions. Gain- and loss-of-function studies using in vitro and in vivo models have revealed distinct roles for specific microRNAs in cardiovascular development, physiological functions, and cardiac pathological conditions...

RATIONALE: Despite a recent decline of in-hospital mortality attributable to acute myocardial infarction (AMI), the incidence of ischemic heart failure (HF) in post-AMI patients is increasing. Although various microRNAs have been proposed as diagnostic indicators for AMI, no microRNAs have been established as predictors of ischemic HF that develops after AMI. OBJECTIVE: We attempted to identify circulating microRNAs that can serve as reliable predictors of ischemic HF in post-AMI patients...