MicroRNA-663 Regulates Human Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Phenotypic Switch and Vascular Neointimal Formation

作者:Li Pan; Zhu Ni; Yi Bing; Wang Nadan; Chen Ming; You Xiaohua; Zhao Xianxian; Solomides Charalambos C; Qin Yongwen; Sun Jianxin*
来源:Circulation Research, 2013, 113(10): 1117-+.
DOI:10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.113.301306

摘要

Rationale: Abnormal phenotypic switch of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) is a hallmark of vascular disorders such as atherosclerosis and restenosis after angioplasty. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as important regulators for VSMC function, and we recently identified miR-663 as critical for controlling human aortic smooth muscle cell proliferation. %26lt;br%26gt;Objective: To investigate whether miR-663 plays a role in human VSMC phenotypic switch and the development of neointima formation. %26lt;br%26gt;Methods and Results: By using quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction, we found that miR-663 was significantly downregulated in human aortic VSMCs on platelet-derived growth factor treatment, whereas expression was markedly increased during VSMC differentiation. Furthermore, we demonstrated that overexpression of miR-663 increased expression of VSMC differentiation marker genes, such as smooth muscle 22 alpha, smooth muscle alpha-actin, calponin, and smooth muscle myosin heavy chain, and potently inhibited platelet-derived growth factor-induced VSMC proliferation and migration. We identified the transcription factor JunB and myosin light chain 9 as downstream targets of miR-663 in human VSMCs, because overexpression of miR-663 markedly inhibited expression of JunB and its downstream molecules, such as myosin light chain 9 and matrix metalloproteinase 9. Finally, we showed that adeno-miR-663 markedly suppressed the neointimal lesion formation by approximate to 50% in mice after vascular injury induced by carotid artery ligation, specifically via decreased JunB expression. %26lt;br%26gt;Conclusions: These results indicate that miR-663 is a novel modulator of human VSMC phenotypic switch by targeting JunB/myosin light chain 9 expression. These findings suggest that targeting miR-663 or its specific downstream targets in human VSMCs may represent an attractive approach for the treatment of proliferative vascular diseases.