MicroRNA miR-378-3p is a novel regulator of endothelial autophagy and function

Autophagy is a highly conserved cellular process in which cytoplasmic materials are internalized into an autophagosome that later fuses with lysosome for their degradation and recycling. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) integral regulators various processes including autophagy endothelial function. Accordingly, we hypothesize miRNA, miR-378-3p, essential regulator of MiR-378-3p expression was measured following inhibition activation cells. A gain- or loss-of function approach employed to either overexpress inhibit the respectively, cultured cells, markers indices function, such as proliferation, migration tube forming potential were measured. Inhibition up- down-regulated respectively. Furthermore, miR-378a-3p overexpression associated impaired indicated by reduced LC3-II/LC3-I ratio, increased proliferation p21 expression, angiogenic migration, nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), cell eNOS Apoptosis not affected cells transfected antagomir. Using silico approach, Protein Disulfide Isomerase Family Member 4 (PDIA-4) identified confirmed target miR-378-3p. PDIA-4 significantly enhanced miR-378-3p-overexpressing -silenced Our findings show inverse relationship between miR-378-3p providing novel insight about epigenetic regulation these processes.