TFAP2C inhibits cell autophagy to alleviate myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury by regulating miR‐23a‐5p/SFRP5/Wnt5a axis

Abstract Myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (MI/R) injury contributes to severe injury for cardiomyocytes. In this study, we aimed to explore the underlying mechanism of TFAP2C on cell autophagy in MI/R injury. MTT assay measured cell viability. The cells injury was evaluated by commercial kits. IF detected the level of LC3B. Dual luciferase reporter gene assay, ChIP or RIP assay were performed to verify the interactions between crucial molecules. We found that TFAP2C and SFRP5 expression were decreased while miR‐23a‐5p and Wnt5a increased in AC16 cells in response to H/R condition. H/R induction led to cell injury and induced autophagy, which were reversed by TFAP2C overexpression or 3‐MA treatment (an autophagy inhibitor). Mechanistically, TFAP2C suppressed miR‐23a expression through binding to miR‐23a promoter, and SFRP5 was a target gene of miR‐23a‐5p. Moreover, miR‐23a‐5p overexpression or rapamycin reversed the protective impacts of TFAP2C overexpression on cells injury and autophagy upon H/R condition. In conclusion, TFAP2C inhibited autophagy to improve H/R‐induced cells injury by mediating miR‐23a‐5p/SFRP5/Wnt5a axis.