Micromanaging vascular smooth muscle cell differentiation and phenotypic modulation.
The phenotype of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is dynamically regulated in response to various stimuli. In a cellular process known as phenotype switching, VSMCs alternate between a contractile and synthetic phenotype state. Deregulation of phenotype switching is associated with vascular disorders such as atherosclerosis, restenosis after angioplasty, and pulmonary hypertension. An important role for microRNAs (miRNAs) in VSMC development and phenotype switching has recently been uncovered. Individual miRNAs are involved in promoting both contractile and synthetic VSMC phenotype. In this review, we summarize recent advances in the understanding of miRNA function in the regulation of VSMC phenotype regulation.
Molecular Cardiology Research Institute, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.
Brandi N
BN
Davis-Dusenbery
Connie
C
Wu
Akiko
A
Hata
D000818:Animals; D055415:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4 / Q000502:physiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000502:physiology*; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010641:Phenotype; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000502:physiology; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology
D055415:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4; D035683:MicroRNAs; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta