Abstract

Background and aims Atherosclerosis (AS) is one of the leading causes of cardiovascular diseases. Studies have revealed critical roles of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the progression of AS. This study was conducted to elucidate the role and mechanism by which miR-19b influences AS. Methods Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were treated with oxidized-low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL), and an AS mouse model was generated with the help of ApoE −/− mice using a high-fat diet regimen. The expression patterns of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), nuclear factor κB (NF-κB)/p65, miR-19b and histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3) were then characterized by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis . In addition, the relationship among PPARγ, NF-κB/p65, miR-19b and HDAC3 was evaluated by co-immunoprecipitation, chromatin immunoprecipitation and dual-luciferase reporter gene assays. Gain- and loss-of-function experiments were also performed to examine their functional significance on ox-LDL-induced inflammation in HUVECs. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was applied to determine the expression patterns of inflammatory factors in AS mice. Results PPARγ and HDAC3 were poorly expressed, while miR-19b and NF-κB/p65 were highly expressed in ox-LDL-induced HUVECs and arterial tissues of AS mice. PPARγ inhibited ox-LDL-induced inflammation in HUVECs by ubiquitination and degradation of NF-κB/p65. miR-19b, downregulated by HDAC3, targeted PPARγ and negatively-regulated its expression. Upregulated PPARγ or HDAC3 or downregulated miR-19b or NF-κB/p65 reduced TNF-α and IL-1β expression levels in ox-LDL-induced HUVECs and AS mice. Conclusions Collectively, the results show that HDAC3 upregulation prevents inflammation to inhibit AS by inactivating NF-κB/p65 via upregulation of miR-19b-mediated PPARγ, providing a basic therapeutic consideration for AS treatment .