Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a recently discovered class of endogenous, small, noncoding RNAs that regulate gene expression by either translational inhibition and / or mRNA degradation. Our recent study suggests that miRNAs are aberrantly expressed in rat carotid arteries with neointimal lesion formation. Among them, MicroRNA‐21 (miR‐21) is the most upregulated miRNA that had more than a 5‐fold increase compared with the control. Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) migration plays an important role in proliferative vascular diseases such as atherosclerosis and restenosis after angioplasty. The aim of the current study is to determine the potential role of miR‐21 in VSMC motility. In vitro, miR‐21 expressed was significantly increased in cultured rat VSMCs stimulated by PDGF. Knockdown of miR‐21 expression decreased, whereas overexpression via adenovirus‐mediated gene transfer increased PDGF‐mediated VSMC motility. miR‐21 expression in VSMCs isolated from balloon‐injured vessels is significantly higher than that from normal vessels. Knockdown of miR‐21 expression decreased, whereas overexpression via adenovirus‐mediated gene transfer increased VSMC migration in rat carotid arteries after angioplasty. The results indicate that miR‐21 is involved in VSMC migration both in vitro and in vivo. MiR‐21 may play an important role in proliferative vascular disease via modulating VSMC motility.
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