Cardiac myocyte miR-29 promotes pathological remodeling of the heart by activating Wnt signaling

Nat Commun. 2017 Nov 20;8(1):1614. doi: 10.1038/s41467-017-01737-4.

Abstract

Chronic cardiac stress induces pathologic hypertrophy and fibrosis of the myocardium. The microRNA-29 (miR-29) family has been found to prevent excess collagen expression in various organs, particularly through its function in fibroblasts. Here, we show that miR-29 promotes pathologic hypertrophy of cardiac myocytes and overall cardiac dysfunction. In a mouse model of cardiac pressure overload, global genetic deletion of miR-29 or antimiR-29 infusion prevents cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis and improves cardiac function. Targeted deletion of miR-29 in cardiac myocytes in vivo also prevents cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis, indicating that the function of miR-29 in cardiac myocytes dominates over that in non-myocyte cell types. Mechanistically, we found cardiac myocyte miR-29 to de-repress Wnt signaling by directly targeting four pathway factors. Our data suggests that, cell- or tissue-specific antimiR-29 delivery may have therapeutic value for pathological cardiac remodeling and fibrosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Animals
  • Cardiomegaly / genetics
  • Cardiomegaly / metabolism*
  • Cardiomegaly / pathology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • MicroRNAs / genetics
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism*
  • Middle Aged
  • Myocardium / metabolism
  • Myocardium / pathology
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction
  • Wnt Proteins / genetics
  • Wnt Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • MIRN29 microRNA, mouse
  • MicroRNAs
  • Wnt Proteins