MiR-125b-5p ameliorates ox-LDL-induced vascular endothelial cell dysfunction by negatively regulating TNFSF4/TLR4/NF-κB signaling

作者：Wenshuai He, Limin Zhao, Pengfei Wang, Maojia Ren, Yunfei Han · 发表于：BMC Biotechnology · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1186/s12896-025-00944-y · 被引用次数：17 · 研究领域：Atherosclerosis and Cardiovascular Diseases、Lipoproteins and Cardiovascular Health、MicroRNA in disease regulation

BACKGROUND: Oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL)-induced endothelial cell dysfunction plays a crucial role in the progression of atherosclerosis (AS). Although miR-125b-5p is known to be involved in cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disorders, its function in ox-LDL-induced endothelial injury is still not well understood. METHODS: An in vitro AS cell model was established by exposing human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) to 100 µg/mL ox-LDL for 24 h. A series of functional assays, including CCK-8 assay, flow cytometry, MDA and SOD kits, capillary-like network formation assay and ELISA assay were performed in vitro. TNFSF4/TLR4/NF-κB pathway-related protein expressions were measured by Western blot. Molecular mechanisms were elucidated through quantitative real-time PCR, western blot analysis, and luciferase reporter assays. RESULTS: Our investigation revealed that exposure to ox-LDL led to a downregulation in miR-125b-5p, while upregulating the expression of tumor necrosis factor (ligand) superfamily, member 4 (TNFSF4), TLR4, p-p65 and p-IkBa in HUVECs in a dose-dependent manner. We confirmed TNFSF4 as a direct target of miR-125b-5p. Ox-LDL exposure led to decreased cell viability and angiogenic capacity, along with increased apoptosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress in HUVECs. These effects were reversed by overexpressing miR-125b-5p or knocking down TNFSF4. Overexpression of TNFSF4 significantly reversed the effects brought about by miR-125b-5p in HUVECs...