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MicroRNA-210 enhances cell survival and paracrine potential for cardiac cell therapy while targeting mitophagy

Abstract:

The therapeutic potential of presumed cardiac progenitor cells (CPCs) in heart regeneration has garnered significant interest, yet clinical trials have revealed limited efficacy due to challenges in cell survival, retention, and expansion. Priming CPCs to survive the hostile hypoxic environment may be key to enhancing their regenerative capacity. We demonstrate that microRNA-210 (miR-210), known for its role in hypoxic adaptation, significantly improves CPC survival by inhibiting apoptosis through the downregulation of Casp8ap2, a ~40% reduction in caspase activity, and a ~90% decrease in DNA fragmentation. Contrary to the expected induction of Bnip3-dependent mitophagy by hypoxia, miR-210 did not upregulate Bnip3, indicating a distinct anti-apoptotic mechanism. Instead, miR-210 reduced markers of mitophagy and increased mitochondrial biogenesis and oxidative metabolism, suggesting a role in metabolic reprogramming. Furthermore, miR-210 enhanced the secretion of paracrine growth factors from CPCs, with a ~1.6-fold increase in the release of stem cell factor and of insulin growth factor 1, which promoted in vitro endothelial cell proliferation and cardiomyocyte survival. These findings elucidate the multifaceted role of miR-210 in CPC biology and its potential to enhance cell-based therapies for myocardial repair by promoting cell survival, metabolic adaptation, and paracrine signalling.

Publication status:
Published
Peer review status:
Peer reviewed

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Publisher copy:
10.3390/jfb16040147

Authors

More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MSD
Department:
Physiology Anatomy and Genetics
Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0003-1118-5015
More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MSD
Department:
Physiology Anatomy and Genetics
Role:
Author
More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MSD
Department:
Physiology Anatomy and Genetics
Role:
Author
More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MSD
Department:
Physiology Anatomy and Genetics
Role:
Author
More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MSD
Department:
Physiology Anatomy and Genetics
Role:
Author


Publisher:
MDPI
Journal:
Journal of Functional Biomaterials More from this journal
Volume:
16
Issue:
4
Article number:
147
Publication date:
2025-04-21
Acceptance date:
2025-04-16
DOI:
EISSN:
2079-4983


Language:
English
Keywords:
Pubs id:
2119192
Local pid:
pubs:2119192
Deposit date:
2025-04-21
ARK identifier:

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