MicroRNA let-7c inhibits Bcl-xl expression and regulates ox-LDL-induced endothelial apoptosis.
Endothelial cells (ECs) apoptosis induced by oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) is thought to play a critical role in atherosclerosis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of noncoding RNAs that posttranscriptionally regulate the expression of genes involved in diverse cell functions, including differentiation, growth, proliferation, and apoptosis. MiRNA let-7 family is known to be involved in the regulation of cell apoptosis. However, the function of let-7 in ox-LDL induced ECs apoptosis and atherosclerosis is still unknown. Here, we show that let-7c expression was markedly up-regulated in ox-LDL induced apoptotic human umbilical cord vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Let-7c over-expression enhanced apoptosis in ECs whereas inhibition of let-7c could partly alleviate apoptotic cell death mediated by ox-LDL. Searching for how let-7c affected apoptosis, we discovered that antiapoptotic protein Bcl-xl was a direct target of let-7c in ECs. Our data suggest that let-7c contributes to endothelial apoptosis through suppression of Bcl-xl.
Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, PR China.
Bing
B
Qin
Bo
B
Xiao
Desheng
D
Liang
Ye
Y
Li
Ting
T
Jiang
Huan
H
Yang
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D061307:Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells; D006801:Humans; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000494:pharmacology*; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000378:metabolism*; D015854:Up-Regulation; D051020:bcl-X Protein / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*
D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D035683:MicroRNAs; D051020:bcl-X Protein; C487931:mirnlet7 microRNA, human; C099252:oxidized low density lipoprotein