miRNA/Target Gene Profile of Endothelial Cells Treated with Human Triglyceride-Rich Lipoproteins Obtained after a High-Fat Meal with Extra-Virgin Olive Oil or Sunflower Oil

Scope: The effects of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins (TRLs) on the miRNA expression of endothelial cells, which are very involved in atherosclerosis, according the type of diet is not known.

Methods and results: We analysed the differences between the effect of TRLs isolated from blood of subjects after a high-fat meal with extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO) and sunflower oil (SO) on the miRNA-Seq profile related to atherosclerosis in HUVECs. We found 28 upregulated miRNAs with EVOO-derived TRLs which could regulate 22 genes related to atherosclerosis. We found 21 downregulated miRNAs with EVOO-derived TRLs (or upregulated with SO-derived TRLs) which could regulate 20 genes related to atherosclerosis. These miRNAs were mainly involved in angiogenesis, with a predominance of an anti-angiogenic effect with EVOO-derived TRLs. Other miRNAs upregulated with SO-derived TRLs were involved in cardiovascular diseases. Pathways for the target genes obtained from the upregulated miRNA with EVOO-derived TRLs were involved in lipid metabolism and inflammatory and defense response, while those with SO-derived TRLs were involved in lipid metabolic process.

Conclusions: EVOO-derived TRLs seem to produce a more atheroprotective profile than SO-derived TRLs. This study provides alternative mechanisms on the protective role of EVOO against the atherogenic process through miRNA regulation in endothelial cells. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Keywords: HUVECs; atherosclerosis; extra-virgin olive oil; miRNAs; sunflower oil.