Fig. 2: Tafazzin expression is regulated by microRNA 125a-5p (miR-125a-5p).

A Wild type and mutated TAFAZZIN (Taz) 3’ UTR sequences with putative binding of miR-125a-5p as shown. B Firely/renilla activity in VSMCs co-transfected with dual luciferase empty vector (EV) or dual luciferase vectors expressing wild type TAFAZZIN (Taz) or mutated (mut) Taz 3’ UTR sequences and control (ctrl) or miR-125a-5p mimic (mimic) (n = 4, two-sided unpaired t test). C, D Quantitative PCR for miR-125a-5p (C) and TAFAZZIN mRNA (D) in hVSMCs transfected with non-targeting control (ctrl) or miR-125a-5p mimic (mimic) (n = 4, two-sided Mann-Whitney test). E Representative western blot for tafazzin (Taz) and citrate synthase (CS) in hVSMCs transfected with non-targeting control (ctrl) or miR-125a-5p mimic (mimic) with quantification (n = 4, two-sided unpaired t test). Vinc = vinculin. F, G Quantitative PCR for miR-125a-5p (F) and TAFAZZIN mRNA (G) in control hVSMCs (ctrl) or hVSMCs treated with oxidised LDL (ox) or oxidised LDL + miR-125a-5p inhibitor (125 inh) (n = 5, Kruskal-Wallis test, post-hoc Bonferroni-Holm). H Representative western blot for tafazzin (Taz) and citrate synthase (CS) in control hVSMCs (ctrl) or hVSMCs treated with oxidised LDL (ox) or oxidised LDL + miR-125a-5p inhibitor (125 inh) with quantification (n = 4, 1-way ANOVA, post hoc Bonferroni-Holm). Vinc = vinculin. For QPCR data, expression is shown relative to control, normalised to U6 small nuclear RNA (RNU6-1) (C, F) or B2M (D, G). For western blot data (E, H), protein abundance is normalised to citrate synthase for tafazzin or vinculin for citrate synthase. For (B–H) n = number of independent experiments. For all experiments hVSMCs from 2 male (M) and 2 female (F) donors were used except (F, G): 2M, 3 F. Data are shown as mean ± SEM with nominal or multiplicity adjusted p-values. Source data are provided as a Source Data file.