Statins differentially modulate microRNAs expression in peripheral cells of hyperlipidemic subjects: A pilot study

Author(s)

Zambrano, Tomas ^{[1, 2]} ; Hirata, Rosario D. C. ^[3] ; Hirata, Mario H. ^[3] ; Cerda, Alvaro ^{[3, 1]} ; Salazar, Luis A. ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ La Frontera, Sci & Technol Bioresource Nucleus BIOREN, Ctr Mol Biol & Pharmacogenet, Av Francisco Salazar, Casilla 54-D, Temuco 01145 - Chile

^[2] Univ Chile, Fac Med, Santiago - Chile

^[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Pharmaceut Sci, Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences; v. 117, p. 55-61, MAY 30 2018.
• Web of Science Citations: 3

Abstract

Aim: Although statins are considered a cornerstone for the treatment of high cholesterol levels due to their powerful cholesterol-lowering effects, response to drug administration is still one of the main pitfalls of statin treatment. So far, the reasons underlying this undesired outcome are still poorly understood, but recently, various studies have suggested that miRNAs may be involved. Therefore, we aimed at evaluating the effect of short-term low-dose treatment with 2 statins on miRNAs expression in patients with hypercholesterolemia. Methods: A total of 40 hypercholesterolemic (HC) subjects following 1 month of atorvastatin (10 mg/day; n= 20) or simvastatin (10 mg/day; n= 20) were included. Multiple available boinformatic algorithms (TargetScan, miRanda, DianaLab, MicroCosm and PicTar) were employed to select miRNAs regulating genes involved in cholesterol metabolism and statin response. Differential miRNAs expression was determined in peripheral cells using the miScript (R) miRNA PCR Array platform. Pathways involving differentially expressed miRNAs were explored using the Ingenuity Pathway Analysis software. Results: Atorvastatin repressed miR-29a-3p, miR-29b-3p, miR-300, miR-33a-5p, miR-33b-5p and miR-454-3p in HC subjects. On the contrary, simvastatin did not show any effect on miRNAs expression. Network analysis indicated that atorvastatin-modulated miRNAs regulate key cholesterol genes (ABCA1, HMGCR, INSIG1, LDLR, LPL, SCAP and SREBF1). Further subgroups analyses showed that miR-106b-5p, miR-17-3p and miR-590-5p were repressed in HC subjects within the lower quartile of atorvastatin response (lower LDL-C reduction), while the expression of miR-106b-5p, miR-17-3p and miR-183-5p was higher in the upper quartile of simvastatin response (higher LDL-C reduction) (p < 0.05). Conclusion: We show that a miRNAs-mediated epigenetic mechanism is differentially affected by statins therapy in vivo, which could be implicated in the variable response to these drugs. Further studies are necessary to disclose their particular role in the cholesterol-reduction response to statins. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 11/21967-1 - Role of statins on modulation of microRNAs in mononuclear cells from hypercholesterolemic patients
• Grantee: Rosario Dominguez Crespo Hirata
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants