Role of Kallistatin Treatment in Aging and Cancer by Modulating miR-34a and miR-21 Expression

Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2017:2017:5025610. doi: 10.1155/2017/5025610. Epub 2017 Jun 28.

Abstract

Kallistatin is an endogenous protein that regulates differential signaling pathways and a wide spectrum of biological activities via its two structural elements: an active site and a heparin-binding domain. Kallistatin via its heparin-binding site inhibits vascular inflammation and oxidative stress by antagonizing TNF-α-induced NADPH oxidase activity, NF-κB activation, and inflammatory gene expression in endothelial cells. Moreover, kallistatin via its active site inhibits microRNA-34a (miR-34a) synthesis and stimulates eNOS and SIRT1 expression in endothelial progenitor cells, whereas its heparin-binding site is crucial for blocking TNF-α-induced miR-21 expression and oxidative stress, thus reducing cellular senescence. By downregulating miR-34a and miR-21 expression, kallistatin treatment attenuates oxidative damage and aortic senescence in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice and extends Caenorhabditis elegans lifespan under stress conditions. Likewise, kallistatin through the heparin-binding site inhibits TGF-β-induced miR-21 synthesis and oxidative stress in endothelial cells, resulting in inhibition of endothelial-mesenchymal transition, a process contributing to fibrosis and cancer. Furthermore, kallistatin's active site is essential for stimulating miR-34a and p53 expression and inhibiting the miR-21-Akt-Bcl-2 signaling pathway, thus inducing apoptosis in breast cancer cells. These findings reveal novel mechanisms of kallistatin in protection against senescence, aging, and cancer development by modulating miR-34a and miR-21 levels and inhibiting oxidative stress.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aging / drug effects
  • Aging / metabolism*
  • Aging / pathology
  • Animals
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / metabolism
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism*
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects
  • RNA, Helminth / metabolism
  • RNA, Neoplasm / metabolism*
  • Serpins / metabolism*
  • Serpins / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
  • MIRN21 microRNA, human
  • MIRN34 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • RNA, Helminth
  • RNA, Neoplasm
  • Serpins
  • kallistatin