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American Heart Association, Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, 7(34), p. 1412-1421, 2014

DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.113.303134

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Prevention of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm by Anti-MicroRNA-712 or Anti-MicroRNA-205 in Angiotensin II-Infused Mice

This paper is made freely available by the publisher.
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.

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Abstract

Objective— Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is characterized as a progressive dilation and degradation of the aortic wall, associated with activation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and inflammation. Emerging evidence indicates a role for microRNAs (miRNAs) in AAA pathogenesis, but it is unclear whether abdominal aortic endothelial miRNAs play a role in the disease process. We aimed to identify miRNAs in the abdominal aortic endothelium that play a critical role in AAA development. Approach and Results— The mouse model of AAA induced by angiotensin II infusion was used in this study. Through a miRNA array and validation study, we initially identified the murine-specific miR-712 and subsequently its human/murine homolog miR-205 as angiotensin II–induced miRNAs in the abdominal aortic endothelium in vivo and in vitro. Mechanistically, miR-712 stimulated MMP activity in the aortic wall by directly targeting 2 MMP inhibitors: tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 3 (TIMP3) and reversion-inducing cysteine-rich protein with kazal motifs (RECK). Silencing of miR-712 and miR-205 by using anti–miR-712 and anti–miR-205, respectively, significantly decreased the aortic MMP activity and inflammation, preventing AAA development in angiotensin II–infused ApoE −/− mice. Further, upregulation of 4 angiotensin II–sensitive miRNAs, miR-205, -21, -133b, and -378, identified in this murine study were confirmed in human AAA samples compared with nondiseased control. Conclusions— Our results demonstrate that angiotensin II–sensitive miR-712 and its human homolog miR-205 downregulate TIMP3 and RECK , which in turn stimulate aortic MMP activity and inflammation, leading to AAA development. Targeting these miRNAs may be a novel therapeutic strategy to prevent AAA.