title: MicroRNA-29a promotes smooth muscle cell differentiation from stem cells by targeting YY1.
abstract: MicroRNA-29a (miR-29a) has been extensively studied in tumor biology and fibrotic diseases, but little is known about its functional roles in vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) differentiation from embryonic stem cells (ESCs). Using well-established VSMC differentiation models, we have observed that miR-29a induces VSMC differentiation from mouse ESCs by negatively regulating YY1, a transcription factor that inhibits muscle cell differentiation and muscle-specific gene expression. Moreover, gene expression levels of three VSMC specific transcriptional factors were up-regulated by miR-29a over-expression, but down-regulated by miR-29a inhibition or YY1 over-expression. Taken together, our data demonstrate that miR-29a and its target gene, YY1, play a regulatory role in VSMC differentiation from ESCs in vitro and in vivo.
authors: Division of Reproductive Medicine & Infertility, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 88#, Jiefang Rd., Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310009, PR China.
authors: Min
authors: M
authors: Jin
authors: Department of Cardiology, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, PR China.
authors: Yutao
authors: Y
authors: Wu
authors: Department of Cardiology, Ningbo Medical Treatment Center Lihuili Hospital, Ningbo 315000, PR China.
authors: Yanwei
authors: Y
authors: Wang
authors: Division of Reproductive Medicine & Infertility, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 88#, Jiefang Rd., Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310009, PR China.
authors: Danqing
authors: D
authors: Yu
authors: Department of Cardiology, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, PR China.
authors: Mei
authors: M
authors: Yang
authors: Department of Cardiology, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, PR China.
authors: Feng
authors: F
authors: Yang
authors: Division of Reproductive Medicine & Infertility, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 88#, Jiefang Rd., Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310009, PR China.
authors: Chun
authors: C
authors: Feng
authors: Department of Cardiology, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, PR China. Electronic address: ting010151452@aliyun.com.
authors: Ting
authors: T
authors: Chen
mesh_terms: D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; D000199:Actins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000070416:Antagomirs / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002460:Cell Line; D051379:Mice; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D000066450:Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D009124:Muscle Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D050986:YY1 Transcription Factor / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; D000199:Actins; D000070416:Antagomirs; C547014:MIRN29 microRNA, mouse; D035683:MicroRNAs; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D009124:Muscle Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D050986:YY1 Transcription Factor; C494699:Yy1 protein, mouse; C544013:alpha-smooth muscle actin, mouse; C051615:transgelin