Thromb Haemost 2017; 117(04): 734-749
DOI: 10.1160/TH16-08-0643
Endothelium and Angiogenesis
Schattauer GmbH

Bone morphogenetic protein 4 regulates microRNAs miR-494 and miR-126–5p in control of endothelial cell function in angiogenesis

Jennifer S. Esser
1   Department of Cardiology and Angiology I, Heart Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
,
Erika Saretzki
1   Department of Cardiology and Angiology I, Heart Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
,
Franziska Pankratz
1   Department of Cardiology and Angiology I, Heart Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
,
Bianca Engert
1   Department of Cardiology and Angiology I, Heart Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
,
Sebastian Grundmann
1   Department of Cardiology and Angiology I, Heart Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
,
Christoph Bode
1   Department of Cardiology and Angiology I, Heart Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
,
Martin Moser
1   Department of Cardiology and Angiology I, Heart Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
,
Qian Zhou
1   Department of Cardiology and Angiology I, Heart Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
› Author Affiliations
Financial support: This work was supported by a grant from the German Heart Foundation/German Foundation of Heart Research [DSHF F/11/16 to J.S.E.] and intramural funds to M.M. and Q.Z.
Further Information

Publication History

Received: 18 August 2016

Accepted after major revision: 26 February 2016

Publication Date:
13 November 2017 (online)

Summary

MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that negatively regulate posttranscriptional gene expression. Several microRNAs have been described to regulate the process of angiogenesis. Previously, we have shown that bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) increased the proangiogenic activity of endothelial cells. In this project, we now investigated how the pro-angiogenic BMP4 effect is mediated by microRNAs. First, we performed a microRNA array with BMP4-stimulated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Among the topregulated microRNAs, we detected a decreased expression of miR-494 and increased expression of miR-126–5p. Next, we analysed the canonical Smad and alternative signalling pathways, through which BMP4 would regulate miR-126–5p and miR-494 expression. Furthermore, the functional effect of miR-494 and miR-126–5p on endothelial cells was investigated. MicroRNA-494 overexpression decreased endothelial cell proliferation, migration and sprout formation. Consistently, miR-494 inhibition increased endothelial cell function. As potential miR-494 targets, bFGF and BMP endothelial cell precursorderived regulator (BMPER) were identified and confirmed by western blot. Luciferase assays showed direct miR-494 binding in BMPER 3’UTR. In contrast, miR-126–5p overexpression increased pro-angiogenic endothelial cell behaviour and, accordingly, miR-126–5p inhibition decreased endothelial cell function. As a direct miR-126–5p target we identified the anti-angiogenic thrombospondin-1 which was confirmed by western blot analysis and luciferase assays. In the Matrigel plug assay application of antagomiR-494 increased endothelial cell ingrowth, whereas antagomiR-126–5p treatment decreased cell ingrowth in vivo. Taken together, through differential regulation of the anti-angiomiR-494 and the angiomiR-126–5p by BMP4 both microRNAs contribute to the pro-angiogenic BMP4 effect on endothelial cells.

Supplementary Material to this article is available online at www.thrombosis-online.com.

 
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