High-Throughput Screening Identifies Micrornas That Target Nox2 and Improve Function Following Acute Myocardial Infarction

Abstract

Myocardial infarction (MI) is the most common cause of heart failure. Excessive production of reactive oxygen species plays a key role in the pathogenesis of cardiac remodeling after MI. NADPH with Nox2 as the catalytic subunit is a major source of superoxide production and expression is significantly increased in the infarcted myocardium, especially by infiltrating macrophages. While microRNAs (miRNAs) are potent regulators of gene expression, and play an important role in heart disease, there still lacks efficient ways to identify miRNAs that target important pathological genes for treating MI. Thus, the overall objective was to establish a miRNA screening and delivery system for improving heart function after MI using Nox2 as a critical target.