Polyunsaturated fatty acids of both the omega-3 and the omega-6 family abrogate the cytokine-induced upregulation of miR-29a-3p by endothelial cells

Abstract

Cellular processes fundamentally depend on protein expression control. At this, protein expression is regulated on the transcriptional and the post-transcriptional level. PUFAs are already known to affect gene transcription. The present study was conducted to answer the question whether PUFAs are also able to impact on the miRNA-mediated post-transcriptional fine-tuning of mRNA copy numbers. To this end, cellular miRNA profiles were screened by means of next-generation sequencing and NanoString analysis to compare PUFA-enriched to unsupplemented endothelial cells exposed to an inflammatory milieu. Validation took place by droplet digital PCR, allowing for an absolute quantification of RNA copy numbers. The analyses revealed that the stimulation-induced upregulation of miR-29a-3p is blocked by PUFA enrichment of endothelial cells. What is more, mRNA copy numbers of miR-29a-3p targets, namely the coagulation factors PAI-1, TF, and vWF, as well as the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8, were reduced in PUFA-enriched endothelial cells compared to unsupplemented cells, counteracting the stimulatory effect of an inflammatory environment. These data hint toward a new mechanism of action by which PUFAs modulate the functionality of endothelial cells. Apparently, the inflammation-modulating properties of PUFAs are also mediated at the post-transcriptional level.