A mammalian mirtron miR-1224 promotes tube-formation of human primary endothelial cells by targeting anti-angiogenic factor epsin2

Sci Rep. 2017 Jul 17;7(1):5541. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-05782-3.

Abstract

Angiogenesis, new vessel formation from pre-existing vessels, is a highly conserved event through vertebrates. However, the system for tuning angiogenesis by species-intrinsic factors is totally unknown. miR-1224 is a member of mammal-specific mirtrons, which were identified as non-canonical microRNAs. We found that the expression of miR-1224 was upregulated in capillary-like tube-forming human umbilical vein endothelial cells on Matrigel. Enforced expression of miR-1224 stimulated tube formation, whereas repression of endogenous miR-1224 inhibited formation. Enforced expression of miR-1224 enhanced VEGF signaling and repressed NOTCH signaling. The adaptor protein of clathrin-dependent endocytosis, epsin2, which has been shown to be a suppressor of angiogenesis, was a direct target of miR-1224. Knockdown of EPN2 stimulated tube formation, while overexpression of EPN2 repressed miR-1224-mediated stimulation. Our findings indicate that miR-1224 is a mammal specific modulator of angiogenesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 3' Untranslated Regions
  • Adaptor Proteins, Vesicular Transport / genetics*
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques
  • Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells
  • Humans
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • Neovascularization, Physiologic / genetics*
  • Receptors, Notch / genetics
  • Receptors, Notch / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / genetics
  • Up-Regulation
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / metabolism
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / pharmacology

Substances

  • 3' Untranslated Regions
  • Adaptor Proteins, Vesicular Transport
  • EPN2 protein, human
  • Epn2 protein, mouse
  • MIRN1224 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • Receptors, Notch
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A