Transforming Growth Factor-β-Induced Endothelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition Is Partly Mediated by MicroRNA-21

Objective-MicroRNAs are a class of small ribonucleotides regulating gene/protein targets by transcript degradation or translational inhibition. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) is involved in cardiac fibrosis partly by stimulation of endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT). Here, we investigated whether microRNA (miR)-21, a microRNA enriched in fibroblasts and involved in general fibrosis, has a role in cardiac EndMT. Methods and Results-TGF-beta treatment of endothelial cells significantly increased miR-21 expression and induced EndMT characterized by suppression of endothelial and increase of fibroblast markers. Overexpression of miR-21 alone also stimulated EndMT. Importantly, miR-21 blockade by transfection of specific microRNA inhibitors partly prevented TGF-beta-induced EndMT. Mechanistically, miR-21 silenced phosphatase and tensin homolog in endothelial cells, resulting in activation of the Akt-pathway. Akt inhibition partly restored TGF-beta-mediated loss of endothelial markers during EndMT. In vivo, pressure overload of the left ventricle led to increased expression of miR-21 in sorted cardiac endothelial cells, which displayed molecular and phenotypic signs of EndMT. This was attenuated by treatment of mice subjected to left ventricular pressure overload with an antagomir against miR-21. Conclusion-TGF-beta-mediated EndMT is regulated at least in part by miR-21 via the phosphatase and tensin homolog/Akt pathway. In vivo, antifibrotic effects of miR-21 antagonism are partly mediated by blocking EndMT under stress conditions. (Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2012; 32: 361-369.)