MicroRNA-1246 regulates proliferation, invasion, and differentiation in human vascular smooth muscle cells by targeting cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR)

MicroRNA (miRNA) plays a key role in the proliferation and invasion of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). However, the role and underlying mechanism of miRNAs in VSMCs are not fully understood. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate the role and mechanism of microRNA-1246 (miR-1246) in VSMCs. VSMCs were cultured, and the proliferation of VSMCs was stimulated by platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF-BB) or 15% fetal bovine serum (FBS). The quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the expression levels of miR-1246 and cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) in VSMCs. The CCK-8 assay and transwell assay were used to detect the proliferation and invasion of VSMCs. Target gene prediction and screening and luciferase reporter assays were used to verify downstream target genes of miR-1246. Western blotting was used to detect the protein expression levels of PCNA, α-SMA, SM-MHC, Collagen-1, and Cyclin D1 in VSMCs. PDGF-BB and FBS treatment induced VSMCs proliferation and the upregulation of miR-1246 expression. Overexpression of miR-1246 promoted VSMCs proliferation, invasion, and differentiation towards synthetic phenotype, while knockdown of miR-1246 had opposite effects. In addition, CFTR was found to be a direct target for miR-1246, and miR-1246 inhibited the expression of CFTR. Moreover, overexpression of CFTR inhibited VSMC proliferation and synthetic differentiation, while overexpression of miR-1246 partly abolished the effects of CFTR overexpression on VSMCs proliferation and differentiation. Our data suggest that MiR-1246 promotes VSMC proliferation, invasion, and differentiation to synthetic phenotype by regulating CFTR. MiR-1246 may be a potential therapeutic target for atherosclerosis.