Autophagy inhibition of hsa-miR-19a-3p/19b-3p by targeting TGF-β R II during TGF-β1-induced fibrogenesis in human cardiac fibroblasts

Sci Rep. 2016 Apr 21:6:24747. doi: 10.1038/srep24747.

Abstract

Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) plays an important role on fibrogenesis in heart disease. MicroRNAs have exhibited as crucial regulators of cardiac homeostasis and remodeling in various heart diseases. MiR-19a-3p/19b-3p expresses with low levels in the plasma of heart failure patients. The purpose of our study is to determine the role of MiR-19a-3p/19b-3p in regulating autophagy-mediated fibrosis of human cardiac fibroblasts. We elucidate our hypothesis in clinical samples and human cardiac fibroblasts (HCF) to provide valuable basic information. TGF-β1 promotes collagen I α2 and fibronectin synthesis in HCF and that is paralleled by autophagic activation in these cells. Pharmacological inhibition of autophagy by 3-methyladenine decreases the fibrotic response, while autophagy induction of rapamycin increases the response. BECN1 knockdown and Atg5 over-expression either inhibits or enhances the fibrotic effect of TGF-β1 in experimental HCF. Furthermore, miR-19a-3p/19b-3p mimics inhibit epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) and extracellular matrix (ECM) prodution and invasion of HCF. Functional studies suggest that miR-19a-3p/19b-3p inhibits autophagy of HCF through targeting TGF-β R II mRNA. Moreover, enhancement of autophagy rescues inhibition effect of miR-19a-3p/19b-3p on Smad 2 and Akt phosphorylation through TGF-β R II signaling. Our study uncovers a novel mechanism that miR-19a-3p/19b-3p inhibits autophagy-mediated fibrogenesis by targeting TGF-β R II.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 3' Untranslated Regions
  • Autophagy / drug effects
  • Autophagy / genetics*
  • Binding Sites
  • Biomarkers
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Fibroblasts / drug effects
  • Fibroblasts / metabolism*
  • Fibrosis
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Heart Valves / metabolism
  • Heart Valves / pathology
  • Humans
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • Myocardium / metabolism*
  • Myocardium / pathology*
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / genetics*
  • RNA Interference
  • Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type II
  • Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta / genetics*
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / metabolism*
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / pharmacology

Substances

  • 3' Untranslated Regions
  • Biomarkers
  • MIRN19 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type II