Title:Implications of microRNAs in the Pathogenesis of Atherosclerosis and Prospects for Therapy
Volume: 22
Issue: 15
Author(s): Armita M. Gorabi, Mohsen Ghanbari, Thozhukat Sathyapalan, Tannaz Jamialahmadi and Amirhossein Sahebkar*
Affiliation:
- Biotechnology Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad,Iran
Keywords:
MicroRNA, Atherosclerosis, Inflammation, Clinical application, Immune cells, endothelial cell (EC).
Abstract: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are non-coding RNAs containing around 22 nucleotides, which
are expressed in vertebrates and plants. They act as posttranscriptional gene expression regulators,
fine-tuning various biological processes in different cell types. There is emerging evidence on their
role in different stages of atherosclerosis. In addition to regulating the inflammatory cells involved
in atherosclerosis, miRNAs play fundamental roles in the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis, such
as endothelial cell (EC) dysfunction, the aberrant function of the vascular smooth muscle cell
(VSMC) and cholesterol metabolism. Moreover, miRNAs participate in several pathogenic pathways
of atherosclerotic plaque development, including their effects on immune cell signaling receptors
and lipid uptake. In this study, we review our current knowledge of the regulatory role of miRNAs
in various pathogenic pathways underlying atherosclerosis development and also outline potential
clinical applications of miRNAs in atherosclerosis.
