TY - JOUR AB - The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of microRNA (miR)‑144‑5p on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) to explore the role of miR‑144‑5p in atherosclerosis. miR‑144‑5p expression was upregulated in HUVECs using miR‑144‑5p mimics. The relative expression level of miR‑144‑5p in HUVECs was detected using reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR (RT‑qPCR). Cell proliferation was detected by performing an MTT assay. Apoptosis was determined via flow cytometry. Cell migration ability was detected by a wound‑healing assay. Cell invasion was determined by a transwell assay. The protein levels of phosphorylated (p)‑PI3K, p‑Akt and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) were detected using western blot analysis. The binding sites between miR‑144‑5p and 3'‑untranslated region of rapamycin‑insensitive companion of mTOR (RICTOR) mRNA were predicted by TargetScan and confirmed by a dual luciferase reporter assay. The present study showed that miR‑144‑5p mimics significantly inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in HUVECs. In addition, miR‑144‑5p mimics could suppress migration and invasion of HUVECs. Further analysis identified that RICTOR was a direct target gene of miR‑144‑5p. Moreover, miR‑144‑5p upregulation decreased the protein level of p‑PI3K, p‑Akt and eNOS. In conclusion, miR‑144‑5p regulated HUVEC proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis through affecting the PI3K‑Akt‑eNOS signaling pathway by altering the expression of RICTOR. These results indicated that miR‑144‑5p may be a potential target for the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis. AD - Department of Cardiology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, Liaoning 121000, P.R. China AU - Fu,Wei AU - Liu,Zidong AU - Zhang,Jing AU - Shi,Yuxue AU - Zhao,Ruiyao AU - Zhao,Heng DA - 2020/03/01 DO - 10.3892/etm.2019.8369 EP - 1823 IS - 3 JO - Exp Ther Med KW - microRNA‑144 rapamycin‑insensitive companion of mTOR human umbilical vein endothelial cells migration invasion PY - 2020 SN - 1792-0981 1792-1015 SP - 1817 ST - Effect of miR‑144‑5p on the proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells by targeting RICTOR and its related mechanisms T2 - Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine TI - Effect of miR‑144‑5p on the proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells by targeting RICTOR and its related mechanisms UR - https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2019.8369 VL - 19 ER -