Key result
Administration of miR-21 significantly relieved CVB3-induced myocarditis in mice by repressing PDCD4-mediated apoptosis.
Why the study?
Does miR-21 administration alleviate CVB3-induced myocarditis in a murine model?
Does miR-21 administration alleviate CVB3-induced myocarditis in a murine model?
miR-21 administration alleviates CVB3-induced myocarditis in mice by repressing PDCD4-mediated apoptosis, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target.
Supports miR-21 investigation in viral myocarditis; leaves open human translation pending prospective trials.
PURPOSE: The participation of microRNAs (miRNAs) in cardiovascular diseases suggests them as potential targets for novel preventive and therapeutic strategies. In this study, the key myocardial miRNA, miR-21, was identified in the murine coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3)-induced myocarditis model and its contribution to disease progression was explored. METHODS: Myocardial microRNA expression changes in CVB3-infected mice were analyzed by real-time PCR and miR-21 was found to be the miRNA whose expression was significantly reduced. Mice were injected with plasmid encoding miR-21 (pMDH-miR-21) at day 1 post CVB3 infection and myocarditis severity was evaluated 7 days post-infection. The underlying mechanism of miR-21 in viral myocarditis was also investigated. RESULTS: Myocardial miR-21 expression was negatively related to viral myocarditis severity. Recovery of miR-21 expression, by injecting with pMDH-miR-21, significantly relieved CVB3-induced myocarditis as shown by increased body weight, reduced myocardial injury, lowered myocarditis score and increased survival rate. Further study showed that miR-21 could protect myocardial apoptosis by specifically inhibiting its target programmed cell death 4 (PDCD4) expression. CONCLUSION: miR-21 administration efficiently alleviated CVB3-induced myocarditis by repressing PDCD4-mediated apoptosis. Our study not only helps to better understand the pathogenesis of viral myocarditis, but also proves the potential of miR-21 as a novel therapeutic target for treatment of CVB3-induced myocarditis and other apoptosis-mediated cardiovascular diseases.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
He et al. (2013) studied CVB3-induced myocarditis. Plasmid encoding miR-21 (pMDH-miR-21) was evaluated on Myocarditis severity (body weight, myocardial injury, myocarditis score, survival rate). Administration of miR-21 significantly relieved CVB3-induced myocarditis in mice by repressing PDCD4-mediated apoptosis.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: