Figure 4.

miR-221 Reduces Apoptosis and Attenuates Autophagy at Day 2 Post-MI

Rats with myocardial infarction (MI) received 1 mg/kg miR-221 mimic or PBS injection (miR-221 or MI +miR-221 and MI-Ctrl) right after MI. Hearts were harvested 48 h later, and they were dissected according to infarct, border, and remote areas. RNA and protein were extracted for analysis. (A) miRNA Taqman qPCR measurement of miR-221 levels in different regions. Western blot and densitometry for (B) blots, (ii) cleaved caspase-3, (iii) P53 phosphorylated at Serine 46 (P-P53 Ser46) and total P53 (T-P53); (C) P62 and LC3-I and LC3-II; and (D) TP53INP1 and DDIT4. β-actin was used as a loading control. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001 versus sham; #p < 0.05, ##p < 0.01 versus MI-Ctrl. n = 5 each group.