van Solingen Coen, Bijkerk Roel, de Boer Hetty C, Rabelink Ton J, van Zonneveld Anton Jan
Department of Nephrology, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands.
Curr Vasc Pharmacol. 2015;13(3):341-51. doi: 10.2174/15701611113119990017.
MicroRNAs are negative regulators of gene expression that have been shown to be essential elements in the coordination of complex regulatory pathways. One of these short non-coding RNAs, microRNA-126, is highly enriched in the vascular endothelium and was shown to play distinct roles in angiogenesis, vasculogenesis and endothelial inflammation. Abrogation of this microRNA leads to severe complications in the response in vascular development as well as vital repair mechanisms carried out by endothelial cells. Interestingly, recent data suggest that the homeostatic role of microRNA-126 may reach far beyond its endothelial functions as this microRNA was also found to be present in cells of the hematopoietic system and in microvesicles or 'free-form' in the periphery. MicroRNA-126 is controlling the fate and/or function of a variety of cells differentiating from the hematopoietic lineage, including megakaryocytes and erythrocytes. Recent studies identified circulating microRNA-126 as a biomarker for myocardial injury and vascular damage in diabetes. Furthermore, reports have suggested a protective role of circulating microRNA-126 in murine models of organ ischemia. Here, we review current insights in the role of microRNA-126 in vascular homeostasis and conclude that this microRNA may serve to integrate and facilitate both local as well as systemic functions in vascular maintenance and repair.
微小RNA是基因表达的负调控因子，已被证明是复杂调控通路协调中的关键要素。这些短的非编码RNA之一，即微小RNA - 126，在血管内皮中高度富集，并在血管生成、血管发生和内皮炎症中发挥独特作用。缺失这种微小RNA会导致血管发育反应以及内皮细胞执行的重要修复机制出现严重并发症。有趣的是，最近的数据表明，微小RNA - 126的稳态作用可能远远超出其内皮功能，因为这种微小RNA也存在于造血系统的细胞以及外周的微泡或“游离形式”中。微小RNA - 126控制着从造血谱系分化而来的多种细胞的命运和/或功能，包括巨核细胞和红细胞。最近的研究将循环微小RNA - 126确定为糖尿病心肌损伤和血管损伤的生物标志物。此外，有报道表明循环微小RNA - 126在器官缺血的小鼠模型中具有保护作用。在此，我们综述了关于微小RNA - 126在血管稳态中作用的当前见解，并得出结论，这种微小RNA可能有助于整合和促进血管维持和修复中的局部及全身功能。
