miR-320-3p regulates the proliferation, migration and apoptosis of hypoxia-induced pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells via KLF5 and HIF1α.

Irreversible pulmonary hypertension (PH) mainly results from vascular remodeling, in which the aberrant growth of pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) plays a significant role. Our previous work suggested that KLF5 and HIF1α are closely associated with the pathogenesis of hypoxic PH as they intervene in the growth of PASMCs. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been demonstrated to be involved in the control of cell proliferation and apoptosis. In the present study, we detected the expression of six miRNAs connected with KLF5 in hypoxia-exposed rat PH models and PASMCs and then further investigated the role of miR-320-3p in the abnormal proliferation of hypoxic PASMCs and in the progression and treatment outcomes of hypoxia-induced PH. The results indicated that miR-320-3p was downregulated in hypoxia-exposed rat PH models, hypoxia-induced PASMCs and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) patients. Moreover, miR-320-3p directly regulated the expression of KLF5 and HIF1α. miR-320-3p mimics inhibited proliferation and migration and promoted apoptosis in hypoxic PASMCs. KLF5 and HIF1α reversed the above effects of miR-320-3p. In conclusion, miR-320-3p plays a certain role in the progression of hypoxic PH via KLF5 and HIF1α and might be a potent therapeutic tool for PH.