Circulating miRNAs as potential marker for pulmonary hypertension.

MircoRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that govern the gene expression and, play significant role in the pathogenesis of heart failure. The detection of miRNAs in circulation of pulmonary hypertensive (PH) human subjects remains elusive. In the current study, we determined the pattern of miRNAs of mild-to-severe human PH subjects and, compared them with the control subjects by miRNA array. Blood was obtained using fluoroscopic and waveform guided catheterization from the distal (pulmonary artery) port of the catheter. A total 40 human subjects were included in the study and, the degree of PH was determined by mean pulmonary arterial pressure. Among several miRNAs in the array, we validated 14 miRNAs and, the data were consistent with the array profile. We identified several novel downregulated miRNAs (miR-451, miR-1246) and upregulated miRNAs (miR-23b, miR-130a and miR-191) in the circulation of PH subjects. Our study showed novel set of miRNAs which are dysregulated in PH and, are directly proportional to the degree of PH. These miRNAs may be considered as potential biomarker for early detection of PH.

NF-κB mediated miR-26a regulation in cardiac fibrosis.

Micro-RNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small non-coding RNAs, recently emerged as a post-transcriptional regulator having a key role in various cardiac pathologies. Among them, cardiac fibrosis that occurs as a result from an imbalance of extracellular matrix proteins turnover and is a highly debilitating process that eventually lead to organ dysfunction. An emerging theme on is that miRNAs participate in feedback loop with transcription factors that regulate their transcription. NF-κB, a key transcription factor regulator controls a series of gene program in various cardiac diseases through positive and negative feedback mechanism. But, NF-κB mediated miRNA regulation in cardiac fibrosis remains obscure. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that miR-26a has targets collagen I and CTGF and possesses putative NF-κB binding element in its promoter region. Here, we show that inhibition of NF-κB in cardiac fibroblast restores miR-26a expression, attenuating collagen I, and CTGF gene expression in the presence of Ang II, conferring a feedback regulatory mechanism in cardiac fibrosis. The target genes for miR-26a were confirmed using 3'-UTR luciferase reporter assays for collagen I and CTGF genes. Using NF-κB reporter assays, we determine that miR-26a overexpression inhibits NF-κB activity. Finally, we show that miR-26a expression is restored along with the attenuation of collagen I and CTGF genes in cardiac specific IkBa triple mutant transgenic mice (preventing NF-κB activation) subjected to 4 weeks transverse aortic banding (TAC), compared to wild type (WT) mice. The data indicate a potential role of miR-26a in cardiac fibrosis and, offer novel therapeutic intervention.