MicroRNA-153 attenuates hypoxia-induced excessive proliferation and migration of pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells by targeting ROCK1 and NFATc3

The aim of the present study was to explore the effect of microRNA (miR)-153 on the proliferation and migration of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) in a hypoxic condition by targeting rho-associated, coiled-coil-containing protein kinase 1 (ROCK1) and nuclear factor of activated T cells cytoplasmic 3 (NFATc3). The right ventricular systolic pressure, right ventricular hypertrophy index, medial wall thickness and medial wall area were studied at different time-points after rats were exposed to hypoxia. Western blot analysis was used to detect ROCK1 and NFATc3 protein levels. In addition, reverse transcription-quantitative (RT-q) PCR was performed to confirm the mRNA levels of miR-153, ROCK1 and NFATc3 in human (H)PASMCs under hypoxic conditions. Transfected cells were then used to evaluate the effect of miR-153 on cell proliferation and migration abilities. The association between miR-153 and ROCK1 or NFATc3 was identified through double luciferase assays. Hypoxia induced pulmonary vascular remodeling and pulmonary arterial hypertension, which resulted from the abnormal proliferation of HPASMCs. ROCK1 and NFATc3 were the target genes of miR-153 and miR-153 mimic inhibited the protein expressions of ROCK1 and NFATc3 in HPASMCs and further inhibited cell proliferation and migration under hypoxic conditions. By contrast, the miR-153 inhibitor promoted the proliferation and migration of HPASMCs. miR-153 regulated the proliferation and migration of HPASMCs under hypoxia by targeting ROCK1 and NFATc3.