MicroRNA-590 attenuates lipid accumulation and pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion by targeting lipoprotein lipase gene in human THP-1 macrophages

Accumulating evidence suggests that microRNA-590 (miR-590) has protective effects on cardiovascular diseases, but the mechanism is unknown. Interestingly, previous studies from our laboratory and others have shown that macrophage-derived lipoprotein lipase (LPL) might accelerate atherosclerosis by promoting lipid accumulation and inflammatory response. However, the regulation of LPL at the post-transcriptional level by microRNAs has not been fully understood. In this study, we explored whether miR-590 affects the expression of LPL and its potential subsequent effects on lipid accumulation and pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion in human THP-1 macrophages. Using bioinformatics analyses and dual-luciferase reporter assays, we found that miR-590 directly inhibited LPL protein and mRNA expression by targeting LPL 3′UTR. LPL Activity Assays showed that miR-590 reduced LPL activity in the culture media. Oil Red O staining and high-performance liquid chromatography assays showed that miR-590 had inhibitory effects on the lipid accumulation in human THP-1 macrophages. We also illustrated that miR-590 alleviated pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion in human THP-1 macrophages as measured by ELISA. With the method of small interfering RNA, we found that LPL siRNA can inhibit the miR-590 inhibitor-induced increase in lipid accumulation and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines in oxLDL-treated human THP-1 macrophages. MiR-590 attenuates lipid accumulation and pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion by targeting LPL gene in human THP-1 macrophages. Therefore, targeting miR-590 may offer a promising strategy to treat atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases. •Highly conserved miR-590 can directly target the 3′UTR of LPL.•MiR-590 can regulate the function of LPL.•MiR-590 attenuates lipid accumulation by targeting LPL gene in THP-1 macrophages.•MiR-590 attenuates inflammatory response by targeting LPL gene in THP-1 macrophages.