Abstract 837: Beta1 And Beta2 Adrenergic Receptor Transgenic Mice Display Distinct MicroRNA Expression Patterns That Converge On The Hypertrophic Signature

MicroRNA (miRNA) are ~22 ribonucleotides-long, with a potential to recognize multiple mRNA targets guided by sequence complimentarity. This class of molecules is functionally versatile, with the capacity to specifically inhibit translation, as well as, induce mRNA degradation, through targeting the 3′-untranslated regions. The levels of individual miRNA vary under different developmental, biological, or pathological conditions, thus, implicating them in normal and pathological cellular attributes. We have previously reported a miRNA signature that distinguishes pressure-overload compensatory hypertrophy by recapitulating the neonatal pattern. We hypothesized that this ’signature’ might aid in discriminating the underlying molecular differences in genetic models of cardiac hypertrophy, as seen in the beta1 and 2 adrenergic receptor (B1AR and B2AR) transgenic (Tg) mice. To address this, we used microarray analysis of RNA isolated from the hearts of 3 months old B1AR and B2AR mice. In general, while both mice exhibited an overlap with the hypertrophy signature including, upregulation of miR-21 and downregulation of miR-133a, miR-133b, and miR-185, the B2-AR Tg exhibited a more extensive overlap with the hypertrophy pattern, which further included upregulation of miR-199a*, miR-214, and miR-15b. To understand the functional significance of these miRNA in myocyte hypertrophy, we cloned them and their anti-sense sequences into adenoviral vectors. Significantly, over-expression miR-21 resulted in a, dose-dependent, branching (sprouting) of the cells. Computational predictions by ’TargetScanS’ identified sprouty as potential target. Subsequently, we confirmed down-regulation of sprouty by over-expression of miR-21 and vice versa. Sprouty is a known inhibitor of the Ras-MAPK signaling pathway and is, concordantly, downregulated in many forms of cancer. In the heart, sprouty has been suggested to control myocyte size and vascularization during cardiac hypertrophy. Thus, we propose that B1AR and B2AR Tg models exhibit distinct miRNA profiles that converge on that of pressure-overload cardiac hypertrophy. Moreover, the commonly over-expressed miR-21 plays a role in downregulating sprouty, an antagonist of the Ras-MAPK pathway.