Identification and analysis of microRNAs in the left ventricular myocardium of two-kidney one-clip hypertensive rats.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in the regulation of numerous physiological and pathological processes. However, little information is available with regard to miRNAs in the left ventricular myocardium of the renovascular angiotensin-dependent hypertensive rat. In this study, miRNA expression profiles in the left ventricular myocardium of two-kidney one-clip (2K1C) hypertensive rats were analyzed using a microarray. The roles of the differentially expressed miRNAs, their target genes and signaling pathways were analyzed using ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA) for the first time to further elucidate the molecular mechanisms of left ventricular remodeling.