MicroRNA-210 modulates endothelial cell response to hypoxia and inhibits the receptor tyrosine kinase ligand Ephrin-A3

J Biol Chem. 2008 Jun 6;283(23):15878-83. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M800731200. Epub 2008 Apr 16.

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-protein-coding RNAs that function as negative gene expression regulators. In the present study, we investigated miRNAs role in endothelial cell response to hypoxia. We found that the expression of miR-210 progressively increased upon exposure to hypoxia. miR-210 overexpression in normoxic endothelial cells stimulated the formation of capillary-like structures on Matrigel and vascular endothelial growth factor-driven cell migration. Conversely, miR-210 blockade via anti-miRNA transfection inhibited the formation of capillary-like structures stimulated by hypoxia and decreased cell migration in response to vascular endothelial growth factor. miR-210 overexpression did not affect endothelial cell growth in both normoxia and hypoxia. However, anti-miR-210 transfection inhibited cell growth and induced apoptosis, in both normoxia and hypoxia. We determined that one relevant target of miR-210 in hypoxia was Ephrin-A3 since miR-210 was necessary and sufficient to down-modulate its expression. Moreover, luciferase reporter assays showed that Ephrin-A3 was a direct target of miR-210. Ephrin-A3 modulation by miR-210 had significant functional consequences; indeed, the expression of an Ephrin-A3 allele that is not targeted by miR-210 prevented miR-210-mediated stimulation of both tubulogenesis and chemotaxis. We conclude that miR-210 up-regulation is a crucial element of endothelial cell response to hypoxia, affecting cell survival, migration, and differentiation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Apoptosis / genetics
  • Cell Differentiation / drug effects
  • Cell Differentiation / genetics
  • Cell Hypoxia / drug effects
  • Cell Hypoxia / genetics
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / genetics
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Chemotaxis / drug effects
  • Chemotaxis / genetics
  • Endothelial Cells / cytology
  • Endothelial Cells / metabolism*
  • Ephrin-A3 / biosynthesis*
  • Ephrin-A3 / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation* / drug effects
  • Gene Expression Regulation* / genetics
  • Humans
  • MicroRNAs / antagonists & inhibitors
  • MicroRNAs / genetics
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism*
  • RNA, Antisense / genetics
  • Transfection
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / pharmacology

Substances

  • Ephrin-A3
  • MicroRNAs
  • RNA, Antisense
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A