title: miRNA-181a/b Regulates Phenotypes of Vessel Smooth Muscle Cells Through Serum Response Factor.
abstract: The phenotypic modulation of vessel smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) plays a crucial role in the physiological and pathological conditions of vasculature in response to local environmental changes. The phenotypic transition of VSMCs is largely modulated by the serum response factor (SRF). miR-181a and miR-181b are members of the well-studied miR-181 family and both have complementary sequence in the 3' untranslated region (UTR) of SRF gene. In this article, evidence insinuates that miR-181a/b was involved in VSMCs differentiation through upregulating synthetic marker genes and downregulating contractile ones, respectively. We also confirmed the roles of the miR-181a/b in promoting SMC proliferation, migration, and synthetic phenotype transformation. In addition, miR-181a/b was indicated as directly targeting at 3' UTR of SRF by dual-luciferase assay and Western blot assay. In a word, miR-181a/b is one of the factors involved in VSMC differentiation toward a synthetic phenotype through targeting at SRF. These findings may provide a potential therapeutic approach that miR-181a/b took part in regulating the vessel disorders.
authors.affiliation: 1 Research Center of Basic Medical Sciences, Medical College of Qinghai University , Xining, People's Republic of China .|2 State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University , Xining, People's Republic of China .
authors.forename: Xiaoxing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: 1 Research Center of Basic Medical Sciences, Medical College of Qinghai University , Xining, People's Republic of China .
authors.forename: Xue
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.affiliation: 1 Research Center of Basic Medical Sciences, Medical College of Qinghai University , Xining, People's Republic of China .
authors.forename: Jianhua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: 1 Research Center of Basic Medical Sciences, Medical College of Qinghai University , Xining, People's Republic of China .
authors.forename: Yongnian
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D020413:3' Untranslated Regions / Q000235:genetics; D001483:Base Sequence; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002465:Cell Movement; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology*; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D010641:Phenotype; D026362:Serum Response Factor / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; D015415:Biomarkers; C000608460:MIRN-181 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs; D026362:Serum Response Factor
keywords: miRNA-181a/b; phenotype modulation; serum response factor; vessel smooth muscle cells