MicroRNA-138 Suppresses Osteoblastic Differentiation of Valvular Interstitial Cells in Degenerative Calcific Aortic Valve Disease.

In this study, we demonstrated the role of miR-138 in VIC osteogenesis. QRT-PCR results revealed miR-138 was significantly down-regulated in calcified aortic valves compared with non-calcified valves. MiR-138 overexpression inhibited VIC osteogenic differentiation in vitro, while down-regulation of miR-138 enhanced the process. Target prediction analysis and dual-luciferase reporter assay confirmed FOXC1 was a direct target of miR-138. Further research found FOXC1 overexpression promoted VIC osteogenic differentiation. In addition, animal experiments validated indirectly miR-138 could suppress aortic valve calcification.Our findings suggest miR-138 could function as a new inhibitor of VIC osteogenic differentiation, which may act by targeting FOXC1.
PMID: 30464116 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Source: International Heart Journal - November 24, 2018 Category: Cardiology Tags: Int Heart J Source Type: research