MiR-92a inhibits vascular smooth muscle cell apoptosis: role of the MKK4-JNK pathway.

ABSTRACT: Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) apoptosis plays an important role in vascular remodeling and atherosclerotic plaque instability. Oxidative stress in diseased vessels promotes VSMC apoptosis in part by activating the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway, which has been identified as a molecular target of miR-92a in macrophages. Here, we examined the expression and biological activity of miR-92a in VSMC. Quiescent VSMC exhibited a low basal expression of miR-92a, which was positively regulated by serum stimulation and negatively regulated by H2O2. Overexpression of miR-92a decreased H2O2-induced VSMC apoptosis as indicated by TUNEL assay and cleaved caspase-3 protein levels. Using 3'UTR-reporter assay, we found that miR-92a overexpression led to suppression of both mitogen-activated prot

SUBMITTER: Zhang L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4143895 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature