MicroRNA-15b/16 Attenuates Vascular Neointima Formation by Promoting the Contractile Phenotype of Vascular Smooth Muscle Through Targeting YAP.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To investigate the functional role of the microRNA (miR)-15b/16 in vascular smooth muscle (SM) phenotypic modulation.

Approach and results

We found that miR-15b/16 is one of the most abundant mRs expressed in contractile vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). However, when contractile VSMCs get converted to a synthetic phenotype, miR-15b/16 expression is significantly reduced. Knocking down endogenous miR-15b/16 in VSMCs attenuates SM-specific gene expression but promotes VSMC proliferation and migration. Conversely, overexpression of miR-15b/16 promotes SM contractile gene expression while attenuating VSMC migration and proliferation. Consistent with this, overexpression of miR-15b/16 in a rat carotid balloon injury model markedly attenuates injury-induced SM dedif

SUBMITTER: Xu F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4701035 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature