Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

MiR-126 delays the formation of aortic dissections in rats through interaction with MAPK signaling pathway

Zhiguo Cao^1,2, Zhu Xiang², Mingkang Liu², Yao Wang², Zhiyun Tao³

¹Department of Nursing, West Anhui Health Vocational College, Lu'an, China; ²Department of General Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of West Anhui Health Vocational College, Lu'an, China; ³Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Jinâ€™an Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Lu'an, China.

For correspondence:- Zhiyun Tao Email: 24660818@qq.com Tel:+865643597128

Accepted: 29 March 2023 Published: 30 June 2023

Citation: Cao Z, Xiang Z, Liu M, Wang Y, Tao Z. MiR-126 delays the formation of aortic dissections in rats through interaction with MAPK signaling pathway. Trop J Pharm Res 2023; 22(6):1173-1179 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v22i6.5

© 2023 The authors.
This is an Open Access article that uses a funding model which does not charge readers or their institutions for access and distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0) and the Budapest Open Access Initiative (http://www.budapestopenaccessinitiative.org/read), which permit unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly credited..

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the impact of microRNA (miR)-126 on aortic dissections using rat aortic smooth muscle cells (RASMCs).

Methods: The cell model of AD (MA-RASMCs) was established by co-culturing RASMCs with angiotensin II (Ang II). The cells were then transfected with miR-126 control and miR-126 mimic. Transfection efficiency was assessed using quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The proliferative and migratory potentials of the cells were determined, as well as the expression levels of related proteins, i.e., Ras, matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP2), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP1), phosphorylated MAPK (p-MAPK), and phosphorylated ERK (p-ERK).

Results: Compared to RASMCs, MA-RASMCs exhibited enhanced proliferation and migration, and decreased miR-126 expression (p < 0.05). MA-RASMCs transfected with miR-126 mimic, reduced its proliferative potential, increased miR-126 expression, and lowered the expression levels of Ras, MMP2, p-MAPK, and p-ERK (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the transfected cells had higher expression levels of TIMP1 (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: MicroRNA-126 inhibits the proliferation and migration of RASMCs by modulating MAPK/ERK pathway, thereby delaying the formation of aortic dissections. Thus miR-126 is a potential therapeutic target for aortic dissections.

Keywords: MicroRNA-126, Aortic dissections, MAPK signaling pathway