The multifactorial nature of microRNAs in vascular remodelling

Abstract

Vascular remodelling is a multifactorial process that involves both adaptive and maladaptive changes of the vessel wall through, among others, cell proliferation and migration, but also apoptosis and necrosis of the various cell types in the vessel wall. Vascular remodelling can be beneficial, e.g. during neovascularization after ischaemia, as well as pathological, e.g. during atherosclerosis and aneurysm formation. In recent years, it has become clear that microRNAs are able to target many genes that are involved in vascular remodelling processes and either can promote or inhibit structural changes of the vessel wall. Since many different processes of vascular remodelling are regulated by similar mechanisms and factors, both positive and negative vascular remodelling can be affected by the same microRNAs. A large number of microRNAs has been linked to various aspects of vascular remodelling and indeed, several of these microRNAs regulate multiple vascular remodelling processes, including both the adaptive processes angiogenesis and arteriogenesis as well as maladaptive processes of atherosclerosis, restenosis and aneurysm formation. Here, we discuss the multifactorial role of microRNAs and microRNA clusters that were reported to play a role in multiple forms of vascular remodelling and are clearly linked to cardiovascular disease (CVD). The microRNAs reviewed are miR-126, miR-155 and the microRNA gene clusters 17-92, 23/24/27, 143/145 and 14q32. Understanding the contribution of these microRNAs to the entire spectrum of vascular remodelling processes is important, especially as these microRNAs may have great potential as therapeutic targets for treatment of various CVDs.

Exercise Training Restores the Cardiac Microrna-16 Levels Preventing Microvascular Rarefaction in Obese Zucker Rats

“…miRNAs are able to target many genes with the possibility to modulate multiple pathways related to vascular remodeling and either can promote or inhibit structural changes of the vessel [17,18,19,20,30]. Studies, both in vitro and in vivo, indicate a role for Dicer-dependent miRNAs in vascular signaling and functions related to angiogenesis [17,18,19].…”

“…Studies, both in vitro and in vivo, indicate a role for Dicer-dependent miRNAs in vascular signaling and functions related to angiogenesis [17,18,19]. In fact, endothelial miRNAs are potential therapeutic targets to correct capillary rarefaction and defective angiogenesis in cardiovascular diseases [17,18,19,23,30,31]. Fish et al [31] showed the loss of vascular integrity and hemorrhage during embryonic development by knockdown of miRNA-126.…”

Inhibition of miR-495 Improves Both Vascular Remodeling and Angiogenesis in Pulmonary Hypertension

“…They are a class of small, noncoding RNAs that play crucial roles typically through binding of the 3′-untranslated region of mRNA. Importantly, a single miRNA may influence several signaling pathways associated with arterial remodeling and angiogenesis by targeting multiple genes [9]. The fundamental functions of miRNAs in pulmonary artery remodeling [10] and in endothelial dysfunction [11, 12] have been reported.…”

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons from Particulate Matter 2.5 (PM2.5) in Polluted Air Changes miRNA Profile Related to Cardiovascular Disease

“…These interactions are based on the functions of coding genes in disease, including miRNA regulation and protein modification. Recent genomic studies have identified a class of endogenous non-coding RNA molecules with pivotal roles in vascular remodeling and disease [12]. miRNA is a type of small non-coding RNA molecule that is able to downregulate the expression of diverse target genes [13].…”