WNTA5-mediated miR-374a-5p regulates vascular smooth muscle cell phenotype transformation and M1 macrophage polarization impacting intracranial aneurysm progression

miR-374a-5p expression and localization in intracranial aneurysm (IA) tissues were detected, and its correlation with vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and macrophage markers was analyzed. Using platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) induced VSMC model, elastase-induced IA rat model. Subsequently, miR-374a-5p was knocked down or overexpressed. We investigated the effects of miR-374a-5p on phenotypic conversion, and in vivo experiments were also carried out to verify the findings. The targeted relationship between miR-374a-5p and WNTA5 was analyzed. The effect of WNT5A inhibition on VSMC phenotypic transformation and THP-1-derived macrophage polarization was explored. Clinical studies have shown that miR-374a-5p was upregulated in IA patients. miR-374a-5p was negatively correlated with SM22 alpha, alpha-SMA, CD206, and positively correlated with CD86. In vitro experiments showed that knocking down miR-374a-5p reversed the promotion of SM22 alpha and alpha-SMA expression by PDGF-BB, while overexpression of miR-374a-5p had the opposite effect. In addition, knocking down miR-374a-5p also reversed the decrease in Calponin, TIMP3, TIMP4, and IL-10 levels caused by PDGF-BB, and further reduced the levels of MMP1, MMP3, MMP9, IL-1 beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha. These findings were further validated in vivo. In IA rats, there were notable increases in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, along with an elevated M1/M2 ratio and the occurrence of vascular lesions. However, these symptoms were improved after knocking down miR-374a-5p. Furthermore, miR-374a-5p could target the WNT signals (WNT2B, WNT3, and WNT5A). miR-374a-5p regulated the VSMC phenotypic conversion and M1 macrophage polarization by targeting WNT5A, thereby impacting the progression of IA.