Fig. 2: miR-15a expression in human aorta and biofluids from validation cohorts and its effects on hAoSMC growth in vitro.

A Fluorescent in situ hybridization of miR-15a (red; Alexa647), immunofluorescence of α-SMA (SMA; green; Alexa555), fluorescently stained nuclei (DAPI) in human aortic tissue. The right-side box shows magnification of aortic medial tunica with visible colocalization of α-SMA, left-side boxes show magnifications show high levels of miR-15a expression within the aortic tunica intima (on the lumen side of α-SMA signal). L = artery lumen. Scale bars are 200 µm (left; top and bottom), 500 µm (middle), 200 µm (right). B Live-time cell imaging analysis of relative cell confluency in hAoSMCs treated with either miR-15a mimic (overexpression, n = 5) or control mimic (scrambled control, n = 5). C Correlation of tissue miR-15a expression in tunica adventitia (adventitia) and tunica media (media) of AAA patient aortas (Stockholm open AAA repair patients; n = 20) and their AAA diameter (AAAd). D Correlation of plasma miR-15a expression in AAA patients (Stockholm AAA screening cohort; n = 68) and their AAAd. E Expression of miR-15a in plasma of AAA patients (Stockholm AAA screening cohort; n = 68 for AAA of which n = 34 for AAA ≥ 40 mm and n = 34 for AAA ≤ 39 mm) and matched controls (n = 35). F Expression of miR-15a in aortic tissue from AAA patients (Munich Vascular Biobank; n = 4) taken either from dilated or non-dilated part of the aorta. G Correlation of serum miR-15a expression in AAA patients (Vienna AAA cohort; n = 28) and their AAAd. Data points are presented as Mean ± SEM. Differences between means were analyzed using unpaired Student’s t test (except G, where paired Student’s t test was used). For analysis of correlation Pearson correlation coefficient (r) was calculated. AAA aortic abdominal aneurysm, L lumen.