Cardiomyocyte-derived exosomes carrying miR-181a-5p facilitate heart-brain crosstalk and exacerbate methamphetamine dependence in rats

BackgroundMethamphetamine (MA) is one of the most harmful synthetic drugs, yet the mechanisms underlying its addiction and relapse remain incompletely understood. This study investigates how cardiomyocyte-derived exosomes carrying miRNAs facilitate heart-brain crosstalk and contribute to MA dependen...

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Main Authors: Hancheng Li, Yongen Peng, Yangkai Wu, Yiling Chen, Jieyu Li, Yunbing He, Hongwu Wang, Chaohua Luo, Zhixian Mo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Pharmacology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1541442/full
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author Hancheng Li
Hancheng Li
Hancheng Li
Yongen Peng
Yangkai Wu
Yangkai Wu
Yiling Chen
Yiling Chen
Jieyu Li
Jieyu Li
Yunbing He
Yunbing He
Hongwu Wang
Hongwu Wang
Chaohua Luo
Zhixian Mo
author_facet Hancheng Li
Hancheng Li
Hancheng Li
Yongen Peng
Yangkai Wu
Yangkai Wu
Yiling Chen
Yiling Chen
Jieyu Li
Jieyu Li
Yunbing He
Yunbing He
Hongwu Wang
Hongwu Wang
Chaohua Luo
Zhixian Mo
author_sort Hancheng Li
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundMethamphetamine (MA) is one of the most harmful synthetic drugs, yet the mechanisms underlying its addiction and relapse remain incompletely understood. This study investigates how cardiomyocyte-derived exosomes carrying miRNAs facilitate heart-brain crosstalk and contribute to MA dependence.Materials and methodsA conditioned place preference (CPP) model of MA dependence was established in rats. High-throughput sequencing were employed to identify candidate miRNAs in cardiac exosomes and brain tissues. Behavioral assessments, real-time PCR, nanoparticle tracking analysis, in vivo imaging, in vitro uptake assays, network pharmacology, and dual-luciferase reporter assays were used to explore the role of cardiomyocyte-derived exosomes in MA dependence.ResultsMA induced significant CPP in rats. miR-181a-5p was markedly upregulated in cardiac exosomes and brain tissue, with higher levels observed in cardiac exosomes. In vivo biodistribution showed that cardiomyocyte-derived exosomes cross the blood-brain barrier and accumulate in the brain. In vitro uptake assays demonstrated that SH-SY5Y cells internalized these exosomes, leading to increased miR-181a-5p expression. Tail vein injections of miR-181a-5p-enriched exosomes enhanced MA CPP behavior in rats. Network pharmacology revealed 108 potential targets of miR-181a-5p, enriched in processes such as steroid biosynthesis, amide metabolism, and apoptosis, involving pathways related to the endoplasmic reticulum, MAPK signaling, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Molecular docking identified stable interactions between MA and 12 targets, including HSP90B1, TNF, and MAP2K1, with miR-181a-5p binding to the 3′-UTR regions of these targets. Dual-luciferase assays confirmed the negative regulation of six targets by miR-181a-5p.ConclusionThis study reveals that cardiomyocyte-derived exosomes transport miR-181a-5p, facilitating heart-brain crosstalk and exacerbating MA CPP behavior in rats. These effects are mediated through the regulation of key brain targets, including HSP90B1, TNF, and MAP2K1, providing new insights into the molecular mechanisms of MA addiction and potential therapeutic targets.
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spelling doaj-art-413988d39c4c4e32831b025d54f5a3de2025-08-20T03:49:23ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pharmacology1663-98122025-05-011610.3389/fphar.2025.15414421541442Cardiomyocyte-derived exosomes carrying miR-181a-5p facilitate heart-brain crosstalk and exacerbate methamphetamine dependence in ratsHancheng Li0Hancheng Li1Hancheng Li2Yongen Peng3Yangkai Wu4Yangkai Wu5Yiling Chen6Yiling Chen7Jieyu Li8Jieyu Li9Yunbing He10Yunbing He11Hongwu Wang12Hongwu Wang13Chaohua Luo14Zhixian Mo15Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, School of Food and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Zhaoqing University, Zhaoqing, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacology of Chinese Medicine, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, ChinaKey Laboratory for Research and Utilization of Southern Medicine, Zhaoqing University, Zhaoqing, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacology of Chinese Medicine, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, ChinaDepartment of Pharmaceutical Engineering, School of Food and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Zhaoqing University, Zhaoqing, ChinaRisk Assessment Laboratory for Agricultural Product Quality and Safety, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Zhaoqing University, Zhaoqing, ChinaDepartment of Pharmaceutical Engineering, School of Food and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Zhaoqing University, Zhaoqing, ChinaRisk Assessment Laboratory for Agricultural Product Quality and Safety, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Zhaoqing University, Zhaoqing, ChinaDepartment of Pharmaceutical Engineering, School of Food and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Zhaoqing University, Zhaoqing, ChinaKey Laboratory for Research and Utilization of Southern Medicine, Zhaoqing University, Zhaoqing, ChinaDepartment of Pharmaceutical Engineering, School of Food and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Zhaoqing University, Zhaoqing, ChinaKey Laboratory for Research and Utilization of Southern Medicine, Zhaoqing University, Zhaoqing, ChinaDepartment of Pharmaceutical Engineering, School of Food and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Zhaoqing University, Zhaoqing, ChinaRisk Assessment Laboratory for Agricultural Product Quality and Safety, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Zhaoqing University, Zhaoqing, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacology of Chinese Medicine, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacology of Chinese Medicine, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, ChinaBackgroundMethamphetamine (MA) is one of the most harmful synthetic drugs, yet the mechanisms underlying its addiction and relapse remain incompletely understood. This study investigates how cardiomyocyte-derived exosomes carrying miRNAs facilitate heart-brain crosstalk and contribute to MA dependence.Materials and methodsA conditioned place preference (CPP) model of MA dependence was established in rats. High-throughput sequencing were employed to identify candidate miRNAs in cardiac exosomes and brain tissues. Behavioral assessments, real-time PCR, nanoparticle tracking analysis, in vivo imaging, in vitro uptake assays, network pharmacology, and dual-luciferase reporter assays were used to explore the role of cardiomyocyte-derived exosomes in MA dependence.ResultsMA induced significant CPP in rats. miR-181a-5p was markedly upregulated in cardiac exosomes and brain tissue, with higher levels observed in cardiac exosomes. In vivo biodistribution showed that cardiomyocyte-derived exosomes cross the blood-brain barrier and accumulate in the brain. In vitro uptake assays demonstrated that SH-SY5Y cells internalized these exosomes, leading to increased miR-181a-5p expression. Tail vein injections of miR-181a-5p-enriched exosomes enhanced MA CPP behavior in rats. Network pharmacology revealed 108 potential targets of miR-181a-5p, enriched in processes such as steroid biosynthesis, amide metabolism, and apoptosis, involving pathways related to the endoplasmic reticulum, MAPK signaling, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Molecular docking identified stable interactions between MA and 12 targets, including HSP90B1, TNF, and MAP2K1, with miR-181a-5p binding to the 3′-UTR regions of these targets. Dual-luciferase assays confirmed the negative regulation of six targets by miR-181a-5p.ConclusionThis study reveals that cardiomyocyte-derived exosomes transport miR-181a-5p, facilitating heart-brain crosstalk and exacerbating MA CPP behavior in rats. These effects are mediated through the regulation of key brain targets, including HSP90B1, TNF, and MAP2K1, providing new insights into the molecular mechanisms of MA addiction and potential therapeutic targets.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1541442/fullmethamphetamine dependencecardiomyocyte-derived exosomesconditioned place preferenceheart-brain crosstalkmiR-181a-5p
spellingShingle Hancheng Li
Hancheng Li
Hancheng Li
Yongen Peng
Yangkai Wu
Yangkai Wu
Yiling Chen
Yiling Chen
Jieyu Li
Jieyu Li
Yunbing He
Yunbing He
Hongwu Wang
Hongwu Wang
Chaohua Luo
Zhixian Mo
Cardiomyocyte-derived exosomes carrying miR-181a-5p facilitate heart-brain crosstalk and exacerbate methamphetamine dependence in rats
Frontiers in Pharmacology
methamphetamine dependence
cardiomyocyte-derived exosomes
conditioned place preference
heart-brain crosstalk
miR-181a-5p
title Cardiomyocyte-derived exosomes carrying miR-181a-5p facilitate heart-brain crosstalk and exacerbate methamphetamine dependence in rats
title_full Cardiomyocyte-derived exosomes carrying miR-181a-5p facilitate heart-brain crosstalk and exacerbate methamphetamine dependence in rats
title_fullStr Cardiomyocyte-derived exosomes carrying miR-181a-5p facilitate heart-brain crosstalk and exacerbate methamphetamine dependence in rats
title_full_unstemmed Cardiomyocyte-derived exosomes carrying miR-181a-5p facilitate heart-brain crosstalk and exacerbate methamphetamine dependence in rats
title_short Cardiomyocyte-derived exosomes carrying miR-181a-5p facilitate heart-brain crosstalk and exacerbate methamphetamine dependence in rats
title_sort cardiomyocyte derived exosomes carrying mir 181a 5p facilitate heart brain crosstalk and exacerbate methamphetamine dependence in rats
topic methamphetamine dependence
cardiomyocyte-derived exosomes
conditioned place preference
heart-brain crosstalk
miR-181a-5p
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1541442/full
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