MicroRNA-146a and -21 cooperate to regulate vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation via modulation of the Notch signaling pathway

  • Authors:
    • Jian Cao
    • Kui Zhang
    • Jubing Zheng
    • Ran Dong
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: December 17, 2014     https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2014.3107
  • Pages: 2889-2895
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Abstract

A number of microRNAs (miRs) have been shown to participate in the regulation of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation, a key step in the formation of atherosclerotic plaque, by targeting certain genes. The aim of the present study was to investigate the roles of miR‑146a and miR‑21 in VSMC growth and to study the underlying mechanisms. The expression levels of four previously reported, differentially expressed microRNAs in atherosclerotic plaque (miR‑146a/b, miR‑21, miR‑34a and miR‑210) were measured in two groups: An atherosclerotic plaque group (n=10) and a normal control group (n=10). Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis revealed that the relative expression levels of miR‑146a and miR‑21 in atherosclerotic plaque samples were significantly upregulated to ~260 and 250%, respectively, compared with those in normal controls. Notch2 and Jag1 were confirmed to be target genes of miR‑146a and miR‑21 through the use of a luciferase assay, PCR and western blot analysis. Additionally, VSMCs transfected with miR‑146a expressed significantly lower levels of Notch2 protein and presented an accelerated cell proliferation, which could be attributed to a reduction in the levels of cell cycle arrest. Cotransfection of miR‑146a and miR‑21 further promoted cell cycle progression in addition to VSMC proliferation. In conclusion, the present study revealed that miR‑146a and miR‑21 were significantly upregulated in atherosclerotic plaque, and cooperated to accelerate VSMC growth and cell cycle progression by targeting Notch2 and Jag1.
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April-2015
Volume 11 Issue 4

Print ISSN: 1791-2997
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Spandidos Publications style
Cao J, Zhang K, Zheng J and Dong R: MicroRNA-146a and -21 cooperate to regulate vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation via modulation of the Notch signaling pathway. Mol Med Rep 11: 2889-2895, 2015
APA
Cao, J., Zhang, K., Zheng, J., & Dong, R. (2015). MicroRNA-146a and -21 cooperate to regulate vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation via modulation of the Notch signaling pathway. Molecular Medicine Reports, 11, 2889-2895. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2014.3107
MLA
Cao, J., Zhang, K., Zheng, J., Dong, R."MicroRNA-146a and -21 cooperate to regulate vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation via modulation of the Notch signaling pathway". Molecular Medicine Reports 11.4 (2015): 2889-2895.
Chicago
Cao, J., Zhang, K., Zheng, J., Dong, R."MicroRNA-146a and -21 cooperate to regulate vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation via modulation of the Notch signaling pathway". Molecular Medicine Reports 11, no. 4 (2015): 2889-2895. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2014.3107