Abbas Mohammadi - Professor, Physiology Research Center AND Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Afzalipour School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman AND Sirjan School of Medical Sciences, Sirjan, Iran
Hossein Fallah - Assistant Professor, Physiology Research Center AND Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Afzalipour School of Medicine,, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
Beydolah Shahouzehi - Physiology Research Center AND Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Afzalipour School of Medicine Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
Hamid Najafipour - Professor, Physiology Research Center AND Department of Physiology, Afzalipour School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

BACKGROUND: microRNAs play pivotal roles in metabolism and other aspects of cell biology. microRNA-۳۳ and liver X receptor (LXR) affect lipid metabolism and cholesterol trafficking. In this study, we evaluated effects of co-administration of miR-۳۳ inhibitor and LXR activator on LXR-α and adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette transporter A۱ (ABCA۱) expression in mice liver. METHODS: Twenty-four mice were randomly allocated into four groups (n = ۶). Group ۱ mice received standard chow diet without any treatment, group ۲ received ۳۰ mg/kg/۴۸ hour LXR agonist (T۰۹۰۱۳۱۷), group ۳ received ۱ mg/kg/۴۸ hour in vivo locked nucleic acids (LNA) anti-miR-۳۳ and group ۴ received both T۰۹۰۱۳۱۷ and in vivo LNA anti-miR-۳۳. All treatments were administrated through intraperitoneal injection (IP). After ۷ days and at the end of the study, mice were sacrificed, liver tissues were excised and blood samples were collected. LXR-α and ABCA۱ genes and protein expression were quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and western blotting, respectively. RESULTS: LXR activation caused LXR-α and ABCA۱ mRNA (P < ۰.۰۵۰) and protein elevation as compared to control (P < ۰.۰۰۱). miR-۳۳ inhibition attenuates T۰۹۰۱۳۱۷ effect on LXR-α expression in group IV. Co-administration of T۰۹۰۱۳۱۷ and anti-miR-۳۳ remarkably elevated high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels, compared to control group (P = ۰.۰۰۱). Separate administration of T۰۹۰۱۳۱۷ and anti-miR-۳۳ also elevated HDL-C levels (P < ۰.۰۱۰). CONCLUSION: Co-administration of T۰۹۰۱۳۱۷ and anti-miR-۳۳ can be considered as a good therapeutic alternative for atherosclerosis because miR-۳۳ inhibition reduced lipogenic effects of LXR-α activator and also helps LXR-α agonist to increase reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) and also HDL-C as antiatherogenic effects.   

Atherosclerosis, mir-۳۳ Human, T۰۹۰۱۳۱۷, Liver X Receptor-Alpha, ABCA۱ Protein