MicroRNA-34a modulates the Notch signaling pathway in mice with congenital heart disease and its role in heart development

Abstract The objective of the study was to elucidate the mechanism by which microRNA-34a (miR-34a) influences heart development and participates in the pathogenesis of congenital heart disease (CHD) by targeting NOTCH-1 through the Notch signaling pathway. Forty D7 pregnant mice were recruited for the purposes of the study and served as the CHD (n = 20, successfully established as CHD model) and normal (n = 20) groups. The positive expression of the NOTCH-1 protein was evaluated by means of immunohistochemistry. Embryonic endocardial cells (ECCs) were assigned into the normal, blank, negative control (NC), miR-34a mimics, miR-34a inhibitors, miR-34a inhibitors + siRNA- NOTCH-1 , siRNA- NOTCH-1 , miR-34a mimics + NOTCH-1 OE and miR-34a mimics + crispr/cas9 (mutant NOTCH-1) groups. The expressions of miR-34a, NOTCH-1, Jagged1, Hes1, Hey2 and Csx in cardiac tissues and ECCs were determined by both RT-qPCR and western blotting methods. MTT assay and flow cytometry were conducted for cell proliferation and apoptosis measurement. A dual luciferase reporter assay was applied to demonstrate that NOTCH-1 was the target gene of miR-34a. In comparison to the normal group, the expressions of miR-34a, Jagged1, Hes1 and Hey2 displayed up-regulated levels, while the expressions of NOTCH-1 and Csx were down-regulated in the CHD group. Compared with the blank and NC groups, the miR-34a mimics and siRNA- NOTCH-1 groups displayed reduced expressions of NOTCH-1 and Csx as well as a decreased proliferation rate, higher miR-34a, Jagged1, Hes1 and Hey2 expressions and an increased rate of apoptosis; while an reverse trend was observed in the miR-34a inhibitors group. The expressions of MiR-34a recorded increased levels in the miR-34a mimics + NOTCH-1 OE and miR-34a mimics + crispr/cas9 (mutant NOTCH-1) groups, however no changes in the expressions of NOTCH-1, Jagged1, Hes1, Hey2, Csx, as well as cell proliferation and apoptosis were observed when compared to the blank and NC groups. The results of our study demonstrated that miR-34a increases the risk of CHD through its downregulation of NOTCH-1 by modulating the Notch signaling pathway.