Prevention of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm by Anti–MicroRNA-712 or Anti–MicroRNA-205 in Angiotensin II–Infused Mice

Objective— Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is characterized as a progressive dilation and degradation of the aortic wall, associated with activation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and inflammation. Emerging evidence indicates a role for microRNAs (miRNAs) in AAA pathogenesis, but it is unclear whether abdominal aortic endothelial miRNAs play a role in the disease process. We aimed to identify miRNAs in the abdominal aortic endothelium that play a critical role in AAA development. Approach and Results— The mouse model of AAA induced by angiotensin II infusion was used in this study. Through a miRNA array and validation study, we initially identified the murine-specific miR-712 and subsequently its human/murine homolog miR-205 as angiotensin II–induced miRNAs in the abdominal aortic endothelium in vivo and in vitro. Mechanistically, miR-712 stimulated MMP activity in the aortic wall by directly targeting 2 MMP inhibitors: tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 3 (TIMP3) and reversion-inducing cysteine-rich protein with kazal motifs (RECK). Silencing of miR-712 and miR-205 by using anti–miR-712 and anti–miR-205, respectively, significantly decreased the aortic MMP activity and inflammation, preventing AAA development in angiotensin II–infused ApoE−/− mice. Further, upregulation of 4 angiotensin II–sensitive miRNAs, miR-205, -21, -133b, and -378, identified in this murine study were confirmed in human AAA samples compared with nondiseased control.Conclusions— Our results demonstrate that angiotensin II–sensitive miR-712 and its human homolog miR-205 downregulateTIMP3 andRECK , which in turn stimulate aortic MMP activity and inflammation, leading to AAA development. Targeting these miRNAs may be a novel therapeutic strategy to prevent AAA.