Myricetin ameliorates ox-LDL-induced HUVECs apoptosis and inflammation via lncRNA GAS5 upregulating the expression of miR-29a-3p

Oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL)-induced endothelial cell dysfunction is a significant event in the progression of atherosclerosis. Even Myricetin (Myr) has been exhibited strong antioxidant potency, the effect on atherosclerosis is still elusive. HUVECs were subjected to ox-LDL, before which cells were preconditioned with Myr. Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, flow cytometry, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot were carried out to assess the impacts of ox-LDL and Myr on HUVECs. The expression of EndMT markers was determined by Western blot analysis and immunocytochemistry. In addition, the relationship of GAS5 and miR-29a-3p was evaluated by RNA Fluorescent in Situ Hybridization and RNA immunoprecipitation assay. Myr preconditioning prevented ox-LDL-induced apoptosis, inflammatory response, and EndMT. GAS5 was upregulated in response to ox-LDL while it was down-regulated by Myr preconditioning. GAS5 over-expression attenuates Myr protective effects against ox-LDL–mediated HUVEC injury. Besides, miR-29a-3p is a target of GAS5 and down-regulated miR-29a-3p could further reduce the effects of GAS5 in ox-LDL–mediated HUVEC. Furthermore, Myr inactivated the TLR4/NF-κB signalling pathway in ox-LDL-treated HUVEC by down-regulating GAS5 or upregulating miR-26a-5p. Myr possessed an anti-inflammatory and anti-EndMT function against ox-LDL-induced HUVEC injury by regulating the GAS5/miR-29a-3p, indicating that Myr may have an important therapeutic function for atherosclerosis.