MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are noncoding regulatory RNAs of ~22 nucleotides in length, involved in the silencing of genetic transcripts by binding to 3′ UTR of its target genes in eukaryotic cells
[48][49]. A single miRNA can target a multitude of genes, while a single gene can be the target of a multitude of miRNAs
[50]. While under physiological conditions, the main functions of miRNAs are considered to be the fine-tuning of gene expression; its silencing effect becomes more prominent under pathological conditions
[51]. Since its relatively recent discovery, miRNA involvement has been implicated in the majority of pathological states, including RAS-induced cardiac remodelling
[52][53][54][55][56]. As the following sections illustrate, miRNAs seem to directly target the RAS and Ang II signalling at all levels, including enzymes that are involved in the generation of Ang II (renin, ACE), its receptors (AT1R, AT2R), and compounds of Ang II signalling pathways.
2.1. miRNAs Involved in Ang II-Induced Cardiac Hypertrophy
Ang II-induced hypertrophy in cardiomyocytes is primarily mediated by AT1R through the canonical pathway, the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) transactivation pathway, and the inflammatory pathway (reviewed in
[57]).
The canonical pathway is initiated through the activation of the Gα13 protein, which in turn activates the calcineurin/NFAT, ERK1/2 pathways and RhoA
[58][59]. RhoA is a small GTPase that induces further downstream activation of myocardin-related transcription factors, leading to the expression of both hypertrophic and fibrotic genes
[60].
EGFR transactivation is initiated by the Ang II-induced increase in the intracellular Ca
2+ and ROS, followed by the Src phosphorylation of ADAM metallopeptidase domain 17 (ADAM17). ADAM17 catalyses the shedding of the heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor (HB-EGF), the ligand for EGFR, resulting in a pro-hypertrophic MAPK, and phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT) signalling
[61].
Lastly, additional pro-hypertrophic growth-promoting signals can also be obtained from the AT1R-induced inflammatory pathway, which is mediated by the release of a variety of inflammatory cytokines including IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α, along with NOX2 and NOX4 activation and subsequent ROS generation
[62][63][64][65][66][67][68][69][70][71].
Furthermore, AT1R-induced mitochondrial NOX4 activation leads to elevated mitochondrial ROS, which induces hypertrophy-promoting autophagy
[72]. Indeed, reduced ROS due to the cardioprotective Ang (1-7)/MasR axis reduces cardiac autophagy as well as hypertrophy, while the opposite action was observed with the deletion of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10
[73][74].
The miRNA expression in Ang II-mediated cardiac hypertrophy is known to be deleterious, and now a growing list of miRNAs is associated with cardiac hypertrophy. Specifically, miR-155, miR-208, miR-132, miR-212, miR-21, miR-410, miR-495, miR-19a, miR-19b, and miR-20b have been associated with promoting hypertrophy, while miR-21-3p, miR-26a, miR-16, miR-98, miR-30a, 34a, miR-133a, miR-1, miR-99a, miR-101, and miR-129-3p have been associated with the prevention or reversal of cardiac hypertrophic growth; however, conflicting evidence also exists and is addressed in the following sections ().
Figure 2. miRNAs involved in Ang II-induced cardiac hypertrophy.
AT1R triggers a variety of signalling pathways that can be divided into the canonical pathway depicted at the centre of the figure: the EGFR transactivation pathway depicted to the left and the inflammatory pathway depicted on the right (based on
[57]). Anti-hypertrophic miRNAs are depicted in blue, while pro-hypertrophic ones are depicted in red.
AT1R, angiotensin II receptor type 1; PLC, phospholipase C; IP3, inositol triphosphate; PKC, protein kinase C; CaM, calmodulin; NFAT, nuclear factor of activated T-cell; CYTOR, cytoskeleton regulator RNA; BIC, B-cell integration cluster; IKKi, I-kappa-B kinase epsilon; NF-κB, nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells; NOX, NADPH oxidase; ROS, reactive oxygen species; ADAM17, ADAM metallopeptidase domain 17; HB-EGF, heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor; EGFR, epidermal growth factor receptor; MAPKKK, mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase; MAPKK, mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase; MAPK, mitogen-activated protein kinase; ERK1/2, extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2; JNK, c-Jun N-terminal kinase; PI3K, phosphoinositide 3-kinase; AKT, protein kinase B; mTOR, mechanistic target of rapamycin; p70S6K, ribosomal protein S6 kinase 1; FoxO3, forkhead box protein O3; MuRF-1, muscle RING-finger protein-1; ATG9A, autophagy-related protein 9A; SORBS2, SH3 domain-containing protein 2; PDLIM5, PDZ and LIM domain 5; PKIA, protein kinase A inhibitor.
2.2. miRNAs in Ang II-Induced Cardiac Fibrosis
Ang II-induced ROS production plays a central role in the pro-fibrotic downstream signalling to AT1R. The primary sources of ROS are likely to be NOX2 and NOX4, which are the dominant isoforms in the heart, as well as the mitochondria
[71][75][76]. Specifically, the mitochondrially located pattern recognition receptor nucleotide-binding domain and leucine-rich repeat-containing PYD-3 (NLRP3) represent a major source of Ang II- and TGF-β-induced ROS in mice cardiac fibroblasts, promoting fibrosis
[77].
Although a substantial amount of ROS can oxidize biomolecules and directly contribute to cell damage and death, the transient increase in ROS triggered by growth factors, hormones, or various inflammatory cytokines can contribute to redox signalling and activate the stress response pathway
[78]. In Ang II-treated cardiomyocytes and cardiac fibroblasts, ROS can activate a variety of signalling cascades, including AKT/mTOR, ERK1/2, p38, NF-κB, RhoA, matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), and the TGF-β pathway that lead to the expression of fibrotic genes, such as extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, MMP-9, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and periostin
[71][79][80][81][82][83][84]. It is worth noting that the activation of each pathway possesses some redundancy, and intracellular Ca
2+ and PKC-
δ can also activate such pro-fibrotic ERK1/2 pathway, while ERK1/2 or p38 themselves can also augment the TGF-β pathway
[85][86][87]. RhoA is activated downstream from NOX-dependent ROS generation, and by Gα13 and Gq/11 downstream from AT1R
[60][84][88][89]. RhoA subsequently increases SRF activity and CTGF secretion, contributing to increased ECM deposits
[89][90]. Moreover, in cardiac fibroblasts, NOX4-induced ROS downstream from AT1R leads to pro-inflammatory IL-18 expression, as well as MMP-9, lipoxygenase (LOX), and collagen expression, which in general favours fibroblast migration and ECM deposition
[91]. ROS contributes to the TGF-β pathway, increasing the activity of both canonical SMAD-dependent pathways and noncanonical signalling through p38 and ERK1/2 signalling and SRF/CREB transcription factors
[57][92]. Furthermore, as with hypertrophy, the transactivation of EGFR through ROS in cardiomyocytes also contributes to fibrosis via MAPK/ERK or PI3K/AKT pathways
[93][94]. In addition to these redox-sensitive signalling proteins, ROS induces the cytoplasmic translocation of the RNA-binding protein HuR, which is followed by an augmented TGF-β pathway
[95].
The multifactorial cytokine TGF-β family is a key regulator of pro-fibrotic genes, favouring ECM deposition in many organs including the heart
[96]. It consists of three isoforms, of which TGF-β1 is mainly implicated in cardiac remodelling
[97][98][99][100]. Extensive evidence suggests that Ang II can induce TGF-β1 expression through AT1R signalling, leading to auto-/para-crine responses in cardiomyocytes and cardiac fibroblasts
[101]. In fact, the hypertrophic and fibrotic effect of Ang II is completely absent if TGF-β1 is knocked out
[102]. In ventricular myocytes, upon Ang II binding to the Gq-coupled receptor AT1R, the NOX-induced sequential activation of PKC, MAPK, and AP-1 triggers TGF-β1 expression
[103]. In VSMCs and primary rat cardiac fibroblasts, Ang II can also activate the SMAD pathway independent of TGF-β
[104][105][106][107][108].
TGF-β1 signalling is initiated upon TGF-β binding to and assembly of TGF-β receptor type I and type II serine/threonine kinases (TGFBR1, TGFBR2), followed by the canonical SMAD pathway or the noncanonical non-SMAD pathways including Rho-like GTPase pathways, MAPK pathways, and PI3K/AKT pathways
[109][110]. SMAD proteins can be categorized into three groups based on their functions
[111]. The receptor-regulated R-SMADs (SMAD2, SMAD3) are substrates for TGF-β family receptors. The common Co-SMAD (SMAD4) functions as a common binding target for the R-SMADs and the complex can subsequently be transported into the nucleus. The inhibitory I-SMADs (SMAD6, SMAD7) compete with SMAD4 for R-SMAD binding, and upon binding, they inhibit R-SMAD function. The TGF-β/SMAD pathway has been implicated in inflammation and tissue injury-induced cardiac fibrosis
[100]. Specifically, SMAD3 is particularly important for its pro-fibrotic effect, while inhibitory SMAD7 antagonizes it
[112][113]. Curiously, SMAD2 deletion would increase fibrosis by upregulating SMAD3
[114]. Non-SMAD pathways in cardiac fibrosis have yet to be systematically studied, but at least TGF-β-activated kinase 1 (TAK1) has been suggested to play a role in the process through its action on MKKs and the resulting phosphorylation of JNK and p38
[115][116][117]. The level of TAK1 activity was found to be elevated 7 days after increased mechanical load with aortic banding, while an activating mutation induces cardiac hypertrophy and interstitial fibrosis
[116].
Several studies have demonstrated the involvement of miRNAs in regulating myocardial fibrosis in the settings of myocardial ischemia or mechanical overload. Namely, miR-21, miR-433, miR-503, miR-34a, and miR-155 have been shown to favour fibrogenesis, being pro-fibrotic miRNAs, while miR-26a, miR133a, miR-19a/b-3p, miR-29b, miR-22, and miR-let-7i have been found to be anti-fibrotic miRNAs ().
Figure 3. miRNAs involved in Ang II-induced cardiac fibrosis.
Ang II induces ROS production through NOX2, NOX4, and NLRP3. Intracellular ROS serves an important signalling function by activating various pro-fibrotic pathways (based on
[57]). TGF-β pathway is another indispensable pathway for Ang II-induced cardiac fibrosis, and it can also be activated through elevated ROS. The EGFR transactivation pathway is more important in cardiomyocytes. Anti-fibrotic miRNAs are depicted in blue, while pro-fibrotic miRNAs are depicted in red.
AT1R, angiotensin II receptor type 1; NOX, NADPH oxidase; NLRP3, nucleotide-binding domain and leucine-rich repeat-containing PYD-3; ROS, reactive oxygen species; EGFR, epidermal growth factor receptor; NF-κB, nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells; AP-1, activator protein-1; IL-18, interleukin-18; STAT3, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3; PTEN, phosphatase and tensin homolog; Spry1, sprouty homolog 1; RECK, reversion-inducing cysteine-rich protein with Kazal motifs; MMP-2, matrix metalloproteinase-2; MAPK, mitogen-activated protein kinase; ERK1/2, extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2; JNK, c-Jun N-terminal kinase; PI3K, phosphoinositide 3-kinase; AKT, protein kinase B; mTOR, mechanistic target of rapamycin; HuR, human antigen R; TGF-β, transforming growth factor-β; SMAD, small mothers against decapentaplegic homolog; TRAF6, TNF receptor associated factor-6; TAK1, TGF-β-activated kinase 1; MKK, mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase; SRF, serum response factor; CREB, cAMP response element-binding protein.