Background: Aberrant endothelial function is a major contributing factor in cardiovascular disease. Dyslipidemia
leads to decreased nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability, an early sign of endothelial failure. Lowinsulin gene enhancer
protein (ISL1) levels decrease healthy NO bioavailability.We hypothesized that the microRNA miR-652-3p negatively
regulates endothelial ISL1 expression and that dyslipidemia-induced miR-652-3p upregulation induces
aberrant endothelial functioning via ISL1 downregulation.
Methods: Various in vitro experiments were conducted in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).
Luciferase assays were performed in HEK293 cells. We constructed a high-fat diet (HFD) Apoe−/− murine
model of dyslipidemia and a rat model of low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-induced dyslipidemia to conduct
in vivo and ex vivo experiments.
Results: Luciferase assays confirmed miR-652-3p's targeting of the ISL1 3′-untranslated region (3′-UTR). Simvastatin
blocked oxidized LDL (ox-LDL)-induced increases in miR-652-3p and ox-LDL-induced decreases in ISL1
protein expression, endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) activation, and NO production. Simvastatin's effects were
abrogated by miR-652-3p overexpression and phenocopied by miR-652-3p inhibition. The dyslipidemic mouse
model exhibited increased miR-652-3p and decreased ISL1 protein levels in the endothelium, effects opposed
by simvastatin or miR-652-3p inhibition. The impact of simvastatin in vivo was abolished by overexpressing
miR-652-3p or knocking-down ISL1. The rat model of dyslipidemia exhibited a similar pattern of miR-652-3p upregulation,
attenuated ISL1 protein levels, decreased eNOS activation, and decreased NO production, effects
mitigated by simvastatin.
Conclusions:Dyslipidemia upregulates endothelialmiR-652-3p,which decreases ISL1 protein levels, eNOS activation,
and NO production. Simvastatin therapy lowers endothelial miR-652-3p expression to protect endothelial
function under dyslipidemic conditions.
基金:
National Natural Science Foundation of China [81960065]