Qingqing Gu
Tanzania
Research Article
Silencing miR-16 Expression Promotes Angiotensin II Stimulated Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Growth
Author(s): Qingqing Gu, Guannan Zhao, Yinan Wang, Biao Xu and Junming YueQingqing Gu, Guannan Zhao, Yinan Wang, Biao Xu and Junming Yue
miRNAs are a class of non-coding endogenous small RNAs that control gene expression at the posttranscriptional level and involved in cell proliferation, migration and differentiation. Dysregulation of miRNA expression is involved in a variety of human diseases including cardiovascular diseases. miRNAs have been shown to regulate vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) function and play vital roles in hypertension, restenosis and atherosclerosis. Here we reported that miR-16 as one of miRNAs in the miR-15 family was highly expressed in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and involved in angiotensin II (Ang II) mediated VSMC signaling pathways. Ang II downregulated miR-16 expression in VSMCs. Lentiviral vector mediated miR-16 knockdown promoted Ang II-induced cell proliferation and migration. Moreover, silencing miR-16 enhanced Ang II induced cell cycle associated gene expression and promot.. View More»
