Negative feedback regulation between microRNA let-7g and the oxLDL receptor LOX-1

J Cell Sci. 2011 Dec 1;124(Pt 23):4115-24. doi: 10.1242/jcs.092767. Epub 2011 Dec 1.

Abstract

Lectin-like oxidized LDL receptor-1 (LOX-1) is a surface scavenger receptor for oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL). Several transcription factors have been reported to regulate LOX-1 expression. MicroRNAs are small noncoding RNAs that control gene expression, but there have been no reports of LOX-1 expression being regulated by microRNAs. Because the microRNA let-7g has been predicted to bind to LOX-1 mRNA, we investigated whether let-7g can regulate LOX-1 expression. Our experiments first demonstrated that oxLDL can reduce let-7g expression. We later confirmed that there is a let-7g binding site on the 3'-untranslated region of LOX-1 mRNA. We showed that intracellular Ca(2+)-activated protein kinase C is involved in the oxLDL-LOX-1-let-7g pathway. Bioinformatics predicted that the let-7g promoter has a binding site for the transcriptional repressor OCT-1. We used a promoter assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation to confirm this binding. Consequently, knockdown of OCT-1 was found to increase let-7g expression. Transfection of let-7g inhibited oxLDL-induced LOX-1 and OCT-1 expression, cell proliferation and migration. Mice fed with a high-fat diet showed a decrease in let-7g and an increase in LOX-1 and OCT-1. A study on humans showed the serum levels of let-7g are lower in subjects with hypercholesterolemia compared with normal controls. Our findings identify a negative feedback regulation between let-7g and LOX-1, and indicate that let-7g could be a target to treat cardiovascular disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Aorta / cytology
  • Aorta / metabolism
  • Atherosclerosis / metabolism
  • Atherosclerosis / pathology
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Movement
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Gene Expression Regulation*
  • Humans
  • Hypercholesterolemia / genetics
  • Hypercholesterolemia / metabolism
  • Hypercholesterolemia / pathology
  • Lipoproteins, LDL / genetics
  • Lipoproteins, LDL / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • MicroRNAs / blood
  • MicroRNAs / genetics
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism*
  • Mutagenesis, Site-Directed
  • Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / cytology
  • Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / metabolism
  • Primary Cell Culture
  • Scavenger Receptors, Class E / genetics
  • Scavenger Receptors, Class E / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction
  • Transfection
  • Wound Healing

Substances

  • Lipoproteins, LDL
  • MicroRNAs
  • OLR1 protein, human
  • Olr1 protein, mouse
  • Scavenger Receptors, Class E
  • mirnlet7 microRNA, human
  • oxidized low density lipoprotein