MiR-191 as a Key Molecule in Aneurysmal Aortic Remodeling
Sabina Lichołai,
Dorota Studzińska,
Hanna Plutecka,
Tomasz Gubała,
Wojciech Szczeklik,
Marek Sanak
Affiliations
Sabina Lichołai
Division of Molecular Biology and Clinical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Skawinska 8, 31-066 Kraków, Poland
Dorota Studzińska
Department of Intensive Care and Perioperative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Wrocławska 1/3, 30-901 Kraków, Poland
Hanna Plutecka
Division of Molecular Biology and Clinical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Skawinska 8, 31-066 Kraków, Poland
Tomasz Gubała
Sano Centre for Computational Medicine, Czarnowiejska 36, 30-054 Kraków, Poland
Wojciech Szczeklik
Department of Intensive Care and Perioperative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Wrocławska 1/3, 30-901 Kraków, Poland
Marek Sanak
Division of Molecular Biology and Clinical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Skawinska 8, 31-066 Kraków, Poland
Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) are a complex disease with an unclear pathomechanism. A positive family history is emphasized as a significant risk factor, and a nonspecific model of inheritance suggests participation of epigenetic regulation in the pathogenesis of this disease. Past studies have implicated microRNAs in the development of AAA; therefore in this project, we measured miR-191 levels in AAA patients and compared them with a control group. We found that miR-191 levels were significantly elevated in aneurysmal patients, although this did not correlate with the available clinical data. We then developed an in vitro model where, using cells with an endothelial phenotype, we determined the effect of miR-191 on the transcriptome using RNA sequencing. Subsequent pathway analysis established that some of the perturbations mediated by miR-191 can be explained by several processes which have long been observed and described in literature as accompanying the development of abdominal aortic aneurysms.
