miR-107 attenuates sepsis-induced myocardial injury by targeting PTEN and activating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway

Abstract

Sepsis is a public health problem worldwide. This study investigated the mechanism of miR-107 on sepsis-induced myocardial injury. Sepsis rat models were established by cecal ligation and puncture, and the cell model was established using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced cardiomyocytes. Cardiac function indexes of rats were measured using echocardiography. Pathological changes in the rat myocardium were observed using histological staining. Expressions of miR-107 in the serum of rats and cardiomyocyte were detected after the treatment of miR-107 mimic or/and pcDNA3.1-PTEN, followed by assessment of cell cycle, proliferation, and apoptosis. Binding sites of miR-107 and PTEN were predicted. PTEN, PI3K, p-PI3K, AKT, and p-AKT expressions in LPS-induced cardiomyocytes were measured. miR-107 was significantly downregulated in the serum of CLP rats and LPS-induced cardiomyocytes. miR-107 overexpression remarkably improved cardiac function and histological changes, decreased inflammatory factors, and alleviated the sepsis-induced myocardial injury in rats. In LPS-induced cardiomyocytes, miR-107 overexpression increased cardiomyocyte proliferation, inhibited apoptosis, and enhanced the proportion of cardiomyocytes arrested in S and G2/M phases. miR-107 targeted PTEN. PTEN overexpression partially reversed the inhibition of miR-107 mimic on cardiomyocyte apoptosis. miR-107 overexpression activated the PI3K/AKT pathway by inhibiting PTEN. To conclude, miR-107 activates the PI3K/AKT pathway by inhibiting PTEN, thus attenuating sepsis-induced myocardial injury and LPS-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis.