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Review
. 2012 Oct;14(5):413-21.
doi: 10.1007/s11883-012-0272-x.

The plaque "micro" environment: microRNAs control the risk and the development of atherosclerosis

Katey J Rayner  1 , Kathryn J Moore
Affiliations
Review

The plaque "micro" environment: microRNAs control the risk and the development of atherosclerosis

Katey J Rayner et al. Curr Atheroscler Rep. 2012 Oct.

Abstract

While the discovery of microRNAs has exponentially expanded our understanding of the regulatory mechanisms governing gene networks in many biological processes, the study of these tiny RNA powerhouses in cardiovascular disease is in its infancy. To date, there have been over 1200 human microRNAs identified, and they are estimated to affect the expression of over half of the protein-coding portion of the human genome. In this review, we will discuss miRNAs that are integral players in processes affecting risk factors for CVD, as well as miRNAs that act at the level of the vessel wall to affect atherogenesis. We will discuss how microRNAs are not only advancing the field of cardiovascular biology, but how some miRNAs are at the forefront of drug development and may be soon advancing into the clinic.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
miRNAs regulating vessel wall homeostasis and lipoprotein metabolism in the liver. In the liver, miR-33a/b act to repress genes involved in fatty acid b- oxidation [CROT HADHB, CPT1A and PRKAA1 (AMPKa)], and miR-33a/b and miR-758 inhibit ABCA1 –a key transport that effluxes cholesterol to generate nascent HDL particles. This HDL can travel to the artery wall to promote reverse cholesterol transport from the plaque, where miR-33a/b also functions to upregulate ABCA1 in macrophage foam cells. Roles for miR-21 and miR-126 have been reported in endothelial cells, whereas miR-143/145 act in smooth muscle cells to regulate vascular function
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