MicroRNA regulation of vascular smooth muscle cells and its significance in cardiovascular diseases
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
9-1-2021
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is among the leading causes of death worldwide. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), regulatory molecules that repress protein expression, have attracted considerable attention in CVD research. The vasculature plays a big role in CVD development and progression and dysregulation of vascular cells underlies the root of many vascular diseases. This review provides a brief introduction of the biogenesis of miRNAs and exosomes, followed by overview of the regulatory mechanisms of miRNAs in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) intracellular signaling during phenotypic switching, senescence, calcification, and neointimal hyperplasia. Evidence of extracellular signaling of VSMCs and other cells via exosomal and circulating miRNAs is also presented. Lastly, current drawbacks and limitations of miRNA studies in CVD research and potential ways to overcome these disadvantages are discussed in detail. In-depth understanding of VSMC regulation via miRNAs will add substantial knowledge and advance research in diagnosis, disease progression, and (or) miRNA-derived therapeutic approaches in CVD research.
Keywords
Vascular remodeling, Phenotypic Switching, Post-transcriptional modification, Cellular communication, Exosome circulating miRNA, Biomarker
Divisions
fac_med
Funders
Ministry of Education, Malaysia (FRGS/1/2015/SKK08/UNIM/03/2),Ministry of Education, Malaysia (FRGS/1/2019/SKK08/UNIM/02/2)
Publication Title
Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
Volume
99
Issue
9
Publisher
Canadian Science Publishing
Publisher Location
65 AURIGA DR, SUITE 203, OTTAWA, ON K2E 7W6, CANADA