Exosomes derived from cardiac fibroblasts with Ang-II stimulation provoke myocardial hypertrophy via miR-15b-5p/PTEN-L axis

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the impact of exosomes derived from Ang II-stimulated cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) on myocardial hypertrophy. Neonatal rat CFs were isolated and identified using Vimentin immunofluorescence. Following Ang II stimulation, exosomes were collected, characterized, and subjected to miRNA sequencing. Myocardial hypertrophy models were induced both in vitro and in vivo using Ang II. CFs were transfected with miR-15b-5p mimics or inhibitors, and their exosomes were co-cultured with rat cardiomyocytes (H9C2). Changes in cell viability, myocardial hypertrophy, and the expression levels of PTEN-L, PINK1, and Parkin proteins were assessed using the CCK-8 assay, cell surface area evaluation, and Western blot analysis. Cardiac tissue pathology and myocardial hypertrophy were evaluated through HE and WAG staining, respectively, while PTEN-L expression was detected by immunohistochemistry. The results demonstrated successful isolation of CFs and their exosomes, with miR-15b-5p significantly enriched in the exosomes derived from Ang II-stimulated CFs (Ang II-CFs-Exos). Ang II-CFs-Exos inhibited cell viability, exacerbated myocardial hypertrophy, and activated mitophagy via miR-15b-5p in the in vitro myocardial hypertrophy model. PTEN-L was identified as a downstream target of miR-15b-5p, with its overexpression reversed the effects of miR-15b-5p mimic on myocardial hypertrophy and mitophagy. Additionally, mitochondrial inhibitors also countered the effects of the miR-15b-5p mimic on myocardial hypertrophy. Furthermore, Ang II-CFs-Exos exacerbated myocardial hypertrophy in rats, while knockout of miR-15b-5p in Ang II-CFs-Exos mitigated this effect. To sum up, Ang II-CFs-Exos promote myocardial hypertrophy by modulating PINK1/Parkin signaling -mediated mitophagy through the miR-15b-5p/PTEN-L axis.