Integrated analysis of miRNA and mRNA reveals that acrolein modulates GPI anchor biosynthesis in human primary endothelial cells

Acrolein (ACR) is a highly reactive α, β-unsaturated carbonyl compound that is related to several diabetic vascular complications. ACR, a ubiquitous aldehyde pollutant, is a product of incomplete combustion reactions and a major component of cigarette smoke. ACR is also endogenously generated during lipid peroxidation. Glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored proteins is a membrane bound protein, which have a variety of cellular functions. It is reported that some of them showed the reduced level under diabetic conditions. In this study, we explored whether ACR may affect GPI anchor related gene expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) by modulation of miRNA expression that play a significant role in the post-transcriptional regulation of genes. We performed global gene expression analysis, acquired altered expression levels of 27 miRNAs and 21 mRNAs that are relevant to GPI anchored proteins, and observed their anti-correlations. Gene Ontology (GO) terms that are closely associated with GPI anchor biosynthesis were highest when analysis was based on biological processes characterized by enriched GO categories. Our results revealed that ACR may control miRNAs to regulate genes involving in GPI anchor biosynthesis in human endothelial cells.