Down-regulation of microRNA-320 suppresses cardiomyocyte apoptosis and protects against myocardial ischemia and reperfusion injury by targeting IGF-1

Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) is an important regulator of cardiomyocyte homeostasis and cardiac structure, and the prosurvival and antiapoptotic effects of IGF-1 have been investigated. However, the effect of microRNA-320 (miR-320) in ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) by targeting IGF-1 is rarely discussed. We investigated the role of miR-320 in I/R injury. A total of 192 healthy female Wistar rats were divided into eight groups (n = 24). Rat heart I/R model was established. Hemodynamics, infarct size weight (ISW), heart function, and rat cardiomyocyte apoptosis were measured. Hypoxia-reoxygenation (H/R) in rat cardiomyocyte was used to simulate the I/R process. The mRNA levels of miR-320 and IGF-1, and proteins levels of IGF-1, IGF-1R, p-IGF-1R, p-ASK1, p-JNK, p-p38, Bcl-2, Bax and Caspase-3 were measured. In vivo inhibition of miR-320 expression significantly increased IGF-1 and IGF-1R mRNA levels, elevated the absolute values of SBP, DBP, MAP, ± dp/dtmax, LVEF and LVFS, decreased ISW, LVESD and LVEDd and the number of TUNEL positive cells, lowered the levels of p-ASK1, p-JNK, p-p38, Bax and Caspase-3 and increased expression of Bcl-2 compared to the I/R + NC group. Compared to H/R + NC group in vitro, miR-320 inhibition increased IGF-1 mRNA levels, inhibited cardiomyocyte apoptosis, down-regulated p-ASK, p-JNK, p-p38, Bax and Caspase-3 levels, and up-regulated Bcl-2 level. MiR-320 inhibition target elevated IGF-1 mRNA and protein levels, suppress early cardiomyocyte apoptosis of I/R, and inhibited ASK1-JNK/p38 pathway, which provides a new target for clinical study of I/R injury.