Structural and functional characterization of chemically modified antisense oligonucleotides targeting miR-214-3p in endothelial cells

MiR-214-3p is a multifunctional regulator involved in oxidative stress, vascular inflammation, and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS)-dependent vasodilation. Its aberrant expression contributes to endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular pathology, making it an attractive therapeutic target. Here, we report the design and evaluation of a panel of eight antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) complementary to the miR-214-3p guide strand and incorporating locked nucleic acid (LNA) or 2'-O-methoxyethyl (MOE) modifications. Comprehensive macromolecular and physicochemical analyses, including melting temperature (T_m) predictions, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, circular dichroism (CD) thermal stability assays, and nuclease degradation studies, demonstrated that LNA and MOE modifications markedly enhance duplex stability and nuclease resistance compared with the commercial miRCURY LNA miR-214 inhibitor. Among the tested designs, ASO-60 displayed the most favorable properties, combining superior thermodynamic stability with strong target engagement. Functional assays in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) further confirmed that ASO-60 effectively relieved miR-214-mediated repression of eNOS, as well as other key endothelial genes, outperforming the reference inhibitor at submicromolar concentrations. These findings support ASO-60 as a promising lead for further development and highlight how macromolecular characterization of chemically tailored oligonucleotides can bridge structural optimization with translational potential in restoring endothelial function and addressing cardiovascular disease.