Effects of MicroRNA-21 on Endothelial-to-mesenchymal Transition and Its Role in the Pathogenesis of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Overview

Journal Zhong Nan Da Xue Xue Bao Yi Xue Ban

Specialty General Medicine

Date 2023 May 10

PMID 37164915

Authors

Yumei Liao

Zhengpeng Zeng

Jinwen Cai

Shenghua Sun

Lihua Xie

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objectives: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a disease characterized by persistent airflow restriction. This study aims to explore whether there is endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) in COPD mice and to explore the relationship between microRNA-21 (miR-21) and EndMT.

Methods: We established the COPD and the gene knockout COPD animal model (both cigarette smoke-induced). Mice were divided into 3 groups (=4): a control group, a COPD group, and a knockout COPD (miR-21/-COPD) group. Masson trichrome staining was used to observe the deposition of collagen around the perivascular. The relative protein levels and positions of endothelial cell markers including vascular endothelial-cadherin (VE-cadherin), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), and platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (CD31) as well as mesenchymal cell markers including α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and neural cadherin (N-cadherin) in lung tissues were observed by immunohistochemical staining.

Results: Compared with the control group, the area of collagen fibril deposition was increased in the COPD group (<0.05), the expression levels of VE-cadherin, eNOS, and CD31 were all decreased (all <0.05), and the expression levels of α-SMA and N-cadherin were increased (both <0.05). Compared with the COPD group, the miR-21/-COPD group had a reduced area of collagen fiber deposition (<0.05), the expression levels of VE-cadherin, eNOS, and CD31 were all increased (all <0.05), and the expression levels of α-SMA and N-cadherin were decreased (both <0.05).

Conclusions: There is a EndMT process in cigarette smoke-induced COPD animal models. gene knockdown could reduce collagen deposition area and inhibit the EndMT process in COPD mice.

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