The role and clinical significance of the miR‑378a‑3p/MAPK1 axis in hypertensive vascular remodeling

BACKGROUND: Primary hypertension is a prevalent cardiovascular disease contributing to a heavy global health burden. To investigate serum miR‑378a‑3p expression in hypertensive patients and its mechanism in OX‑LDL‑mediated vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) dysfunction. METHOD: 286 primary hypertension patients and 132 healthy controls were enrolled, and serum miR‑378a‑3p levels and clinical parameters were detected. ROC curve and multivariate logistic regression were applied for diagnostic and risk factor analyses. In vitro cultured human aortic VSMCs were used to assess cell function, and phenotypic transformation via qRT‑PCR, CCK‑8, Transwell, and Western blot. Target gene binding was verified by bioinformatics and dual‑luciferase assay. RESULTS: miR‑378a‑3p was significantly reduced in hypertension sufferers, and served as an independent protective factor, whereas LDL‑C, PRA, Ang II, and ALD were independent risk factors. OX‑LDL downregulated miR‑378a‑3p and promoted VSMC dysfunction, while miR‑378a‑3p overexpression alleviated these injuries by directly targeting MAPK1. CONCLUSION: miR-378a-3p shows potential as an auxiliary screening biomarker for hypertension risk stratification and may serve as a promising therapeutic target by regulating VSMC function via MAPK1.