OBJECTIVETo investigate the microRNAs (miRNAs) expression profile of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) rats and the regulating effects of Huoxue Anxin Recipe (, HAR) on angiogenesis-related miRNAs and genes.

METHODSForty-five Wistar rats were randomly assigned to 3 groups according to a random number table: sham, AMI, and AMI+HAR groups (15 in each group). AMI rats were established by ligation of the left descending coronary artery. HAR was intragastrically administered to rats of the AMI+HAR group for successive 21 days since modeling, meanwhile the same volume of 0.9% normal saline was administered to rats of the sham and AMI groups. Doppler echocardiography was used for noninvasive cardiac function test. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to observe the histopathological change. miRNAs expression profile was detected by quantitative realtime polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The mRNA and protein expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and a target gene of miR-210 was further detected by qRT-PCR and Western blot, respectively. The microvessels density of myocardium was evaluated by CD31 immunostaining.

RESULTSCompared with the sham group, ejection fraction (EF) and fractional shortening (FS) values were decreased significantly in the AMI group (P<0.01), while the infarction area and the interstitial collagen deposition were increased obviously. As for the AMI+HAR group, EF and FS values were increased significantly (P<0.05 vs. AMI group), and the infarction area was reduced and the interstitial collagen deposition were alleviated significantly. Total of 23 miRNAs in the AMI group expressed differently by at least 1.5 folds compared with those in the sham group; 5 miRNAs in the AMI+HAR group expressed differently by at least 1.5 folds compared with those in the AMI group. Among them, miR-210 was low in the AMI group and high in the AMI+HAR group. The relative mRNA and protein expressions of VEGF were decreased significantly in the AMI group (P<0.05 vs. sham group), and increased significantly in the AMI+HAR group (P<0.01 vs. AMI group). CD31 expression area and optical intensity were decreased significantly in the AMI group (P<0.05 vs. sham group), and increased significantly in the AMI+HAR group (P<0.01 vs. AMI group).

CONCLUSIONSHAR could reduce the infarction area, alleviate the interstitial fibrosis and improve the cardiac function of AMI rats. Those effects could be related to promoting myocardium angiogenesis of HAR by up-regulating miR-210 and VEGF.