Overexpression of microRNA-100-5p attenuates the endothelial cell dysfunction by targeting HIPK2 under hypoxia and reoxygenation treatment.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are important regulators of many cellular processes, and the dysregulation of miRNAs is associated with various diseases. MiR-100-5p is revealed to be downregulated in gestational hypertension, while its underlying regulatory mechanism remains unclear. The pathological condition of gestational hypertension was mimicked by the hypoxia and reoxygenation (H/R) treatment to human placental microvascular endothelial cells (HPMECs). RT-qPCR and western blotting were conducted to detect the mRNA and protein expression of RNAs. HPMEC viability was assessed by CCK-8 assay. HPMEC angiogenesis was examined using tube formation assay. The concentrations of ANG-1 and ANG-2 in HPMECs were detected by ELISA. The binding relationship between miR-100-5p and homeodomain interacting protein kinase 2 (HIPK2) was investigated using luciferase reporter assay. MiR-100-5p was downregulated in HPMECs after H/R treatment. MiR-100-5p overexpression reversed the H/R-induced decrease in viability, angiogenesis of HPMECs. HIPK2 was targeted by miR-100-5p in HPMECs, and miR-100-5p negatively modulated HIPK2 expression at the mRNA and protein levels. MiR-100-5p activated the PI3K/AKT pathway by downregulating HIPK2. Rescue assays demonstrated that miR-100-5p promoted the viability and angiogenesis of H/R treated HPMECs by targeting HIPK2 to activate the PI3K/AKT pathway. MiR-100-5p overexpression inhibits the dysfunction of HPMECs under hypoxia and reoxygenation by downregulating HIPK2 to activate the PI3K/AKT pathway.