Up-regulation of miR-195 contributes to cardiac hypertrophy-induced arrhythmia by targeting calcium and potassium channels

Previous studies have confirmed that miR-195 expression is increased in cardiac hypertrophy, and the bioinformatics website predicted by Targetscan software shows that miR-195 can directly target CACNB1, KCNJ2 and KCND3 to regulate Cavβ1, Kir2.1 and Kv4.3 proteins expression. The purpose of this study is to confirm the role of miR-195 in arrhythmia caused by cardiac hypertrophy. The protein levels of Cavβ1, Kir2.1 and Kv4.3 in myocardium of HF mice were decreased. After miR-195 was overexpressed in neonatal mice cardiomyocytes, the expression of ANP, BNP and β-MHC was up-regulated, and miR-195 inhibitor reversed this phenomenon. Overexpression of miR-195 reduced the estimated cardiac function of EF% and FS% in wild-type (WT) mice. Transmission electron microscopy showed that the ultrastructure of cardiac tissues was damaged after miR-195 overexpression by lentivirus in mice. miR-195 overexpression increased the likelihood of arrhythmia induction and duration of arrhythmia in WT mice. Lenti-miR-195 inhibitor carried by lentivirus can reverse the decreased EF% and FS%, the increased incidence of arrhythmia and prolonged duration of arrhythmia induced by TAC in mice. After miR-195 treatment, the protein expressions of Cavβ1, Kir2.1 and Kv4.3 were decreased in mice. The results were consistent at animal and cellular levels, respectively. Luciferase assay results showed that miR-195 may directly target CACNB1, KCNJ2 and KCND3 to regulate the expression of Cavβ1, Kir2.1 and Kv4.3 proteins. MiR-195 is involved in arrhythmia caused by cardiac hypertrophy by inhibiting Cavβ1, Kir2.1 and Kv4.3.

Keywords: Cavβ1; Kir2.1; Kv4.3; arrhythmia; cardiac hypertrophy; miR-195.