MicroRNA differential expression in animal model of vascular calcification

Abstract

Objective To build animal model of vascular calcification using vitamin D3+ nicotine method, observe spectral changes of microRNA (miRNA, miR) in the process of vascular calcification, predict miRNA target genes through the analysis of the bioinformatics, to detect miRNA expression changes (set 2 times the change of threshold) in the aorta tissues of vascular calcification model group and control group using Affemitrixmicrornas chip, and screen differentially expressed miRNAs. Methods The rat vascular calcification model was established using vitamin D3 plus nicotine, and the miRNA expression profile was analyzed by miRNA chip assay. Potential target of one selected miRNA with sharpest variation in expression was predicted by both PicTar and TargetScan. Results At 20th day of induction, the blood calcium in the model group was significantly increased (P=0.000). Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was significantly increased in the model group as compared with that in the control group. At 20th day, ALP activity in the model group was increased by 85.7%. Micrornas chip results showed that the expression of mmu-miR-297a was significantly down-regulated in the model group. Conclusion This study successfully constructed vascular calcification animal model. Through the screening of differentially expressed miRNAs, we found that miR-297a expression was significantly down-regulated in the vascular calcification model. Key words: Vascular calcification; MicroRNAs; MicroRNA-297a