title: MicroRNA-145 in vascular smooth muscle cell biology: a new therapeutic target for vascular disease.
abstract: Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) phenotypic modulation and proliferation are critical cellular events in the development of a variety of proliferative vascular diseases. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in these cellular events are still unclear. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) represent a novel class of small, non-coding RNAs that negatively regulate gene expression via degradation or translational inhibition of their target mRNAs. In a previous study, we identified that miR-145 is the most abundant miRNA in normal arteries and VSMCs. However, the roles of miR-145 in VSMC biology and vascular disease are unknown. In our recent Circulation Research article, we found that the expression of miR-145 is significantly downregulated in dedifferentiated VSMCs and in balloon-injured arteries. Moreover, both in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated that miR-145 is a critical modulator of VSMC phenotype and proliferation. This review article summarizes the current research progress regarding the roles of miR-145 in VSMC biology and discusses the potential therapeutic opportunities surrounding this miRNA in vascular disease.
authors.affiliation: RNA and Cardiovascular Research Laboratory, Department of Anesthesiology, New Jersey Medical School, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, USA. zhangc3@umdnj.edu
authors.forename: Chunxiang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000378:metabolism*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000378:metabolism*; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: C541010:MIRN145 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs