The evaluation of miR-874 antagomiR and miR-146a toxicity in cardiomyocytes

Abstract More and more studies have shown that microRNAs (miRNAs) play key roles in the treatment of heart failure. Studies have shown that miR-874 (miR-874) inhibitors can reduce H2O2-induced cardiomyocyte necrosis and may have a therapeutic effect on heart failure in terms of cardiomyocyte necrosis. Therefore, the purpose of this experiment is to study the other effects of miR-874 and miR-146a on the key pathways in cardiomyocytes and cardiac fibroblasts. In this study, the roles of miR-874 antagomiR and miR-146a in cardiomyocytes and cardiac fibroblasts were analyzed. we investigated the level of miR-874 expression in H9C2 cardiomyocytes after miR-874 antagomiR transfection and found that the miR-874 expression in the H9C2 cells transfected with miR-874 antagomiR group was significantly lower than that in the control group. The results showed that miR-874 was successfully knocked down by the transfection of miR-874 antagomiR. Our results demonstrated that miR-874 inhibition has no effect on the activity of Caspase-3/7 in cardiomyocytes. miR-874 antagomiR has no effect on the proliferation of cardiac fibroblasts, whereas it can inhibit the activity of caspase-8 in cardiac fibroblasts. In addition, the potential effect of miR-874 antagomiR on cardiac remodeling associated genes were examined. miR-874 antagomiR had no effect on SERCA2a mRNA level in H9C2 cells. In addition, miR-874 antagomiR were able to down-regulate the mRNA level of MMP9 and had no effect on MMP2 mRNA levels in H9C2 cells. Finally, The concentration of Ca2+ was measured using Fluo-4 NW Calcium Assay Kits following transfection of miRNAs or negative control in primary cardiomyocytes. miR-874 antagomiR was found to have no effect on Ca2+ concentration in cardiomyocytes. the concentration of Ca2+ in the cardiomyocytes transfected with miR-146a mimics was significantly lower than the mimic negative control group. In summary, miR-874 antagomiR and miR-146a may have a therapeutic effect on heart failure, but may also have side effects on heart failure treatment. Therefore, miR-874 antagomiR should be further studied to provide a basis for the development of drugs for heart failure.