miR‐20a‐5p promotes pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration by targeting ABCA1

• Published in: Journal of biochemical and molecular toxicology 2020-12, Vol.34 (12), p.e22589-n/a
• Main Authors: Zhou, Yun, Fang, Xuan‐liang, Zhang, Yun, Feng, Yan‐ni, Wang, Shan‐shan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: ABCA1; ABCA1 protein; Animal models; Apoptosis; ATP-binding protein; Cell culture; Cell migration; Cell proliferation; Cholecystokinin; Gene expression; Hypertension; Hypoxia; miR‐20a‐5p; Muscles; PAH; PASMCs; Polymerase chain reaction; Pulmonary arteries; Pulmonary artery; Reverse transcription; Smooth muscle; Transfection
• ISSN: 1095-6670; 1099-0461
• DOI: 10.1002/jbt.22589

Background The function of miR‐20a‐5p in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) and the underlying mechanism remains largely unknown. Methods C57BL/6J mice and PASMCs were used for constructing pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) animal and cell models, respectively. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) was employed to detect miR‐20a‐5p and ATP‐binding cassette subfamily A member 1 (ABCA1) messenger RNA expression. CCK‐8, Transwell, and TUNEL experiments were used to determine PASMCs proliferation, migration, and apoptosis. The relationship between miR‐20a‐5p and ABCA1 was detected by luciferase reporter experiment, Western blot analysis, and qRT‐PCR. Results miR‐20a‐5p was remarkably elevated in PASMCs of PAH mice and human PASMCs treated by hypoxia, while ABCA1 was remarkably decreased. After transfection of miR‐20a‐5p mimics, PASMCs proliferation and migration were promoted and PASMCs apoptosis was suppressed. ABCA1 was confirmed to be a target of miR‐20a‐5p and restoration of ABCA1 reversed the function of miR‐20a‐5p. Conclusion miR‐20a‐5p enhances the proliferation and migration of PASMCs to promote the development of PAH via targeting ABCA1.