Circulation Research “In This Issue” Anthology

Abstract

1 MicroRNA-181b inhibits vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis in mice, report Sun et al.Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory vascular disease that is in part driven by the activation of the transcription factor NF-κB. In vascular endothelial cells, oxidized low-density lipoproteins, angiotensin II and other pro-atherogenic factors activate NF-κB. These factors promote the transfer of NFkB from the cytoplasm to the nucleus where it increases the transcription of pro-inflammatory genes. Recently, miR-181b was found to repress importin-α3, the protein responsible for transferring NF-κB to the nucleus. But whether this miR could actually suppress atherosclerosis was unknown. This prompted Sun and colleagues to inject atherosclerosis-prone mice with a version of miR-181b. They found that miR-181b reduced NF-κB activity as well as the expression of importin-α in the aortic arches of the mice. Importantly, atherosclerotic lesion formation was also reduced, and the lesions contained fewer macrophages and T cells. Interestingly, the team also found that patients with coronary artery disease had reduced levels of miR-181b in their blood. Taken together these results indicate that increasing miR-181b levels in patients could be a potential therapy for diminishing atherogenesis. A non-fatal heart attack often leads to progressive tissue damage that results in heart failure. Indeed, despite recent advances, Lasting Effects of AAV1/SERCA2a in Heart Failure