上调miR-133a表达水平对自发性高血压大鼠心肌纤维化的影响

目的:观察上调微小RNA-133a(miR-133a)的表达水平对自发性高血压大鼠(SHR)心肌纤维化的影响。方法:以同源正常血压Wistar-Kyoto(WKY)大鼠为正常对照组,另将SHR随机分为SHR组、SHR+腺相关病毒(AAV)组和SHR+携带miR-133a的腺相关病毒(miR-133a-AAV)组。通过冠脉灌注法将miR-133a-AAV转染至SHR大鼠的心脏,监测大鼠的尾动脉压,Masson染色观察心肌胶原沉积情况,real-time PCR检测心肌组织中miR-133a的表达水平,免疫组化法和Western blot法检测心肌组织中转化生长因子-β1(TGF-β1)和结缔组织生长因子(CTGF)的蛋白表达水平。结果:与WKY大鼠相比,SHR的尾动脉压明显升高,心肌组织中miR133a表达水平降低,TGF-β1和CTGF蛋白表达水平升高,出现心肌纤维化;上调SHR心肌miR-133a的表达水平后,心肌纤维化程度明显减轻,TGF-β1和CTGF蛋白表达水平降低。结论:上调心肌组织中miR-133a的表达水平,对高血压导致的大鼠心肌纤维化有改善作用,其机制可能与抑制心肌组织中TGF-β1和CTGF蛋白表达有关。

Up-regulation of miR-133a expression attenuates myocardial fibrosis in spontaneously hypertensive rats

AIM: To investigate the effect of up-regulated expression of microRNA-133a (miR-133a) on myocardial fibrosis in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). METHODS: Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats with homologous normal blood pressure served as the normal control group. SHR were divided into SHR group, SHR+ adeno-associated virus (AAV) group and SHR+miR-133a-AAV group randomly. miR-133a carried by miR-133a-AAV was transfected into SHR heart by coronary perfusion. The rat tail artery pressure was monitored. The myocardial collagen deposition was observed by Masson staining. The expression of miR-133a in myocardial tissue was detected by real-time PCR. The protein levels of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) were determined by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. RESULTS: Compared with the WKY rats, the tail artery pressure of the SHR increased significantly. The expression of miR-133a in heart decreased, and the expression levels of TGF-β1 and CTGF increased (P<0.05), and myocardial fibrosis occurred. After up-regulating the expression level of miR-133a in the heart of SHR, the myocardial fibrosis was significantly reduced, and the expression levels of TGF-β1 and CTGF decreased (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Up-regulation of the miR-133a expression improves myocardial fibrosis induced by hypertension, which may be related to inhibiting the protein expression of TGF-β1 and CTGF in myocardium.