MiR-208a aggravates H2O2-induced cardiomyocyte injury by targeting APC

Oxidative stress injury, inducing cardiomyocyte injury, is the major denominator of many cardiovascular diseases. In present study, we aimed to explore the molecular mechanism of microRNA-208a (miR-208a) in oxidative stress-induced cardiomyocyte injury. In this study, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced injury in H9c2 and AC16 cardiomyocytes was used as a model of myocardial injury. The pro-apoptosis potential and mechanism of miR-208a for oxidative injury were evaluated by MTT, flow cytometry, qRT-PCR and Western blot assays. Intracellular reactive oxygen species and detection of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), malondialdehyde (MDA), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were performed to analyze the effect of miR-208a on H2O2-induced injury in H9c2 cardiomyocytes. The association between miR-208a and activated protein C (APC) was confirmed by luciferase reporter and RIP assays. We foundthatmiR-208a mimic aggravated H2O2-induced apoptosis and oxidative injury in cardiomyocytes, while miR-208a inhibitor hadan inverse effect. APC was a target gene of miR-208a and miR-208a negatively regulated the expression of APC. APC reduced H2O2-induced injury in H9c2 cardiomyocytes. Knockdown of APC attenuated the inhibitiveeffect of miR-208a inhibitor on H2O2-induced injuryin H9c2 cardiomyocytes. We concluded thatmiR-208a could aggravate H2O2-induced injury in H9c2 cardiomyocytes by targeting APC. A new signaling pathway miR-208a/APC was first observed in myocardial injury.