title: miR-31 Overexpression Exacerbates Atherosclerosis by Targeting NOX4 in apoE(-/-) Mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Increasing evidence has shown that microRNAs are involved in apoptosis in different cells. However, the role of miR-31 in atherosclerosis (AS) has never been elucidated. In the present study, we identified the impact of miR-31 on atherosclerosis in macrophages.
  
  
  METHODS
  The level of miR-31 in macrophages was examined in apoE-/- mice. Cell viability and apoptosis were examined in macrophage cells transfected with miR-31 mimics, inhibitors or negative control. In addition, the impact of NOX4 on cell apoptosis was tested with a specific siRNA targeting NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4).
  
  
  RESULTS
  An enhanced level of miR-31 was found in macrophage cells of apoE-/- mice, suggesting that miR-31 might contribute to abnormal cell proliferation of macrophage cells. Upregulation of miR-31 decreased cell viability and induced macrophage cell apoptosis. Moreover, knockdown of NOX4 reduced cell migration capacity and enhanced cell apoptosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current data suggested that miR-31 contributed to macrophage apoptosis by regulating the expression of NOX4.
authors.forename: Dejun
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Liu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dejun
authors.forename: Xuelin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Sun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Xuelin
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Ye
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ping
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D017209:Apoptosis; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood; D008264:Macrophages / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics*; D000074663:NADPH Oxidase 4; D019255:NADPH Oxidases / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D035683:MicroRNAs; C539917:Mirn31 microRNA, mouse; D000074663:NADPH Oxidase 4; D019255:NADPH Oxidases; C422943:Nox4 protein, mouse