Epitranscriptomic Modification of MicroRNA Increases Atherosclerosis Susceptibility

Abstract Emerging evidence indicates that oxidative stress causes the hydroxylation of guanine (G) to generate 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro guanosine ( 8 OH-G) in microRNAs (miRs), which induces the guanine-to-uracil (G-to-U) transversion and thus changes the miR targetomes. However, whether and how the 8 OH-G-modified miRs are involved in vascular endothelial dysfunction and atherogenesis were unexplored. Using 8 OH-G crosslinking immunoprecipitation miR sequencing (8OH-G CLIP-miR-seq), we found that 8 OH-G miR-483 were among the most enriched 8 OH-G miR species in ECs induced by ox-LDL. Transcriptomic profiling by RNA-seq indicated that the G-to-U transversion of miR-483 altered the original mRNA targeting efficacy and allows 8 OH-G miR-483 to recognize new mRNA target sites. A reduced ratio of 8 OH-G miR-483 to miR-483 in lung ECs was found in the endothelial-specific miR-483 transgenic (EC-miR-483 Tg) mice. Moreover, reduction of atherosclerosis was significant in EC-miR-483 Tg mice administrated AAV8-PCSK9 and fed an atherogenic diet. In situ miR hybridization revealed an increased 8 OH-G miR-483 level in the intima of human atherosclerotic arteries. Collectively, this study demonstrates that the redox burden incurred by cardiovascular risk factors is a culprit of the miR-483 to 8 OH-G miR-483 transversion. Such epitranscriptomic modification of miR-483 causes endothelial dysfunction and increases atherosclerosis susceptibility via its targetomes shift.