MicroRNA Profile in Swimming Trained Female Rats and its Therapeutic Potential in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

Introduction Both aerobic exercise training ( ET ) and Hypertension ( HY ) induce different cardiac hypertrophy (CH) phenotypes which molecular differences and may lead to new targets for therapies in cardiovascular disease, as microRNAs (miRNAs). Methods We selected 15 miRNAs that were differentially expressed by ET from miRNAarray data and compared them with other from SHR (Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats) miRNAarray data. Four miRNAs were selected for qRT‐PCR confirmation: miRNA‐27a, 27b, 126 e 29c. Among then, miRNA 29c was chosen to be modulated by lentiviral vector due its role in fibrosis regulation. Intramuscular cardiac injection of the lentiviral vector particles 0.6×10 9 vp /was performed for two different times (7 and 14 days) (SHR7 and SHR14). The transduction efficiency was assessed by GFP expression by Western Blot. Blood pressure (BP) was measured by caudal plethysmography, CH was analyzed by ratio LVW/BW (left ventricle weight/body weight), HW/BW (heart weight/body weight) and by cardiomyocytes diameter (dCMO). qRT‐PCR was used to assess miRNA‐29c expression and its targets COLIAI and COLIIIAI gene expression. The LV collagen content was assessed by histology ( Picrossirius red ), by collagen volume fraction, and by hydroxiproline concentration. Results Both groups that received the low doses were GFP positive in the heart and liver tissue. BP was increased to SHR7, but it was prevented by miR‐29c lentivirus treatment to SHR14. The miRNA‐29c expression increased in all treated groups versus their control (CSI). COLIAI expression decreased in treated groups, while COLIIIAI did not change. Collagen volume fraction decreased in all treated groups, which shows that the treatment was efficient to decrease the cardiac collagen. HW/BW ratio decreased 7–11% in SHR14, while the dCMO was increased in all treated groups. Conclusions These results suggest that miR‐29c lentivirus treatment induces beneficial cardiac remodeling in SHR, increasing dCMO and decreasing cardiac fibrosis. These results open perspective for further investigation of antifibrotic therapies for cardiovascular diseases. Support or Funding Information FAPESP, CNPq, CAPES and NAPmir This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal .