The microRNA-15 family inhibits the TGF beta-pathway in the heart

Aims The overloaded heart remodels by cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and interstitial fibrosis, which contributes to the development of heart failure. Signalling via the TGF beta-pathway is crucial for this remodelling. Here we tested the hypothesis that microRNAs in the overloaded heart regulate this remodelling process via inhibition of the TGFb-pathway. Methods and results We show that the miRNA-15 family, which we found to be up-regulated in the overloaded heart in multiple species, inhibits the TGFb-pathway by targeting of TGFBR1 and several other genes within this pathway directly or indirectly, including p38, SMAD3, SMAD7, and endoglin. Inhibition of miR-15b by subcutaneous injections of LNA-based antimiRs in C57BL/6 mice subjected to transverse aorta constriction aggravated fibrosis and to a lesser extent also hypertrophy. Conclusion We identified the miR-15 family as a novel regulator of cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis acting by inhibition of the TGF beta-pathway.