Title:The Roles of MicroRNAs in Atherosclerosis
Volume: 21
Issue: 13
Author(s): Xinjie Lu and Vijay Kakkar
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Atherosclerosis, autoantibodies, MicroRNA, Toll-like receptor and inflammatory.
Abstract: MicroRNA (abbr. miRNA) is an endogenous small non-coding RNAs (containing ~22 nucleotides) found in
plants and animals, which functions in transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. These endogenous
gene expression inhibitors were primarily described in cancer but recent emerging roles in the regulation of
autoimmune inflammation which is thought to be associated with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), including atherosclerosis
known as an autoimmune disease. MiRNA controls innate and adaptive immune responses to intracellular bacterial infection
by targeting interferon-γ, and plays the roles in endothelial cell (EC), vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC), and
macrophages, and thereby leading to regulate the progression of atherosclerosis. MiRNA modulates several pathways
such as lipid uptake and Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling, implicating an involvement in plaque development. In the
present review, we focus on the roles of microRNAs in atherosclerosis through which highlight the therapeutic possibility
for the treatment of atherosclerosis.
