The historical view of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in atherosclerosis is that aberrant proliferation of VSMCs promotes plaque formation, but that VSMCs in advanced plaques are entirely beneficial, for example preventing rupture of the fibrous cap. However, this view has been based on ideas that there is a homogenous population of VSMCs within the plaque, that can be identified separate from other plaque cells (particularly macrophages) using standard VSMC and macrophage immunohistochemical markers. More recent genetic lineage tracing studies have shown that VSMC phenotypic switching results in less-differentiated forms that lack VSMC markers including macrophage-like cells, and this switching directly promotes atherosclerosis. In addition, VSMC proliferation may be beneficial throughout atherogenesis, and not just in advanced lesions, whereas VSMC apoptosis, cell senescence, and VSMC-derived macrophage-like cells may promote inflammation. We review the effect of embryological origin on VSMC behavior in atherosclerosis, the role, regulation and consequences of phenotypic switching, the evidence for different origins of VSMCs, and the role of individual processes that VSMCs undergo in atherosclerosis in regard to plaque formation and the structure of advanced lesions. We think there is now compelling evidence that a full understanding of VSMC behavior in atherosclerosis is critical to identify therapeutic targets to both prevent and treat atherosclerosis.

Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells in Atherosclerosis

Glucose control and vascular complications in veterans with type 2 diabetes

Since the identification of microRNAs (miRNAs) in 1993, and the subsequent discovery of their highly conserved nature in 2000, the amount of research into their function--particularly how they contribute to malignancy--has greatly increased. This class of small RNA molecules control gene expression and provide a previously unknown control mechanism for protein synthesis. As such, it is unsurprising that miRNAs are now known to play an essential part in malignancy, functioning as tumour suppressors and oncogenes. This Review summarises the present understanding of how miRNAs operate at the molecular level; how their dysregulation is a crucial part of tumour formation, maintenance, and metastasis; how they can be used as biomarkers for disease type and grade; and how miRNA-based treatments could be used for diverse types of malignancies.

https://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/lanonc/PIIS1470-2045(12)70073-6.pdf

microRNAs in cancer management.

Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are a major cell type present at all stages of an atherosclerotic plaque. According to the 'response to injury' and 'vulnerable plaque' hypotheses, contractile VSMCs recruited from the media undergo phenotypic conversion to proliferative synthetic cells that generate extracellular matrix to form the fibrous cap and hence stabilize plaques. However, lineage-tracing studies have highlighted flaws in the interpretation of former studies, revealing that these studies had underestimated both the content and functions of VSMCs in plaques and have thus challenged our view on the role of VSMCs in atherosclerosis. VSMCs are more plastic than previously recognized and can adopt alternative phenotypes, including phenotypes resembling foam cells, macrophages, mesenchymal stem cells and osteochondrogenic cells, which could contribute both positively and negatively to disease progression. In this Review, we present the evidence for VSMC plasticity and summarize the roles of VSMCs and VSMC-derived cells in atherosclerotic plaque development and progression. Correct attribution and spatiotemporal resolution of clinically beneficial and detrimental processes will underpin the success of any therapeutic intervention aimed at VSMCs and their derivatives.

/pdf/vascular-smooth-muscle-cells-in-atherosclerosis-5anz35o9d7.pdf

Vascular smooth muscle cells in atherosclerosis

Multitarget Strategies to Reduce Myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury: JACC Review Topic of the Week.

Overexpression of miR-429 induces mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition (MET) in metastatic ovarian cancer cells.

Myocardial infarction (MI) remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and novel therapeutic targets still need to be investigated to alleviate myocardial injury and the ensuing maladaptive cardiac remodelling. Accumulating studies have indicated that lncRNA H19 might exert a crucial regulatory effect on cardiovascular disease. In this study, we aimed to explore the biological function and molecular mechanism of H19 in MI. To investigate the biological functions of H19, miRNA-22-3p and KDM3A, gain- and loss-of-function experiments were performed. In addition, bioinformatics analysis, dual-luciferase reporter assays, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays, RNA pull-down assays, quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot analyses as well as rescue experiments were conducted to reveal an underlying competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) mechanism. We found that H19 was significantly down-regulated after MI. Functionally, enforced H19 expression dramatically reduced infarct size, improved cardiac performance and alleviated cardiac fibrosis by mitigating myocardial apoptosis and decreasing inflammation. However, H19 knockdown resulted in the opposite effects. Bioinformatics analysis and dual-luciferase assays revealed that, mechanistically, miR-22-3p was a direct target of H19, which was also confirmed by RIP and RNA pull-down assays in primary cardiomyocytes. In addition, bioinformatics analysis and dual-luciferase reporter assays also demonstrated that miRNA-22-3p directly targeted the KDM3A gene. Moreover, subsequent rescue experiments further verified that H19 regulated the expression of KDM3A to ameliorate MI-induced myocardial injury in a miR-22-3p-dependent manner. The present study revealed the critical role of the lncRNAH19/miR-22-3p/KDM3A pathway in MI. These findings suggest that H19 may act as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for MI.

LncRNA H19 ameliorates myocardial infarction-induced myocardial injury and maladaptive cardiac remodelling by regulating KDM3A.

Inhibition of neointimal hyperplasia in the rat carotid artery injury model by a HMGB1 inhibitor

Nobiletin ameliorates myocardial ischemia and reperfusion injury by attenuating endoplasmic reticulum stress-associated apoptosis through regulation of the PI3K/AKT signal pathway.

Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) serves as an important inducer of apoptotic and autophagic responses in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury (MIRI). Radioprotective 105 kDa protein (RP105) is a specific inhibitor of TLR4. However, the molecular mechanisms by which RP105 represses myocardial apoptosis and autophagy through TLR4‑mediated signaling during I/R have not yet been fully elucidated. Therefore, in the present study, we aimed to examine whether adenovirus-mediated RP105 overexpression repressed myocardial apoptosis and autophagy by inhibiting the TLR4-driven mechanism in MIRI. Three days after the injection of virus or saline into the myocardium, Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were subjected to 30 min of left anterior descending coronary artery occlusion and 6 h of reperfusion. Myocardial specimens were prepared for analysis. We performed immunohistochemichal and histopathological analysis, the measurement of cardiac biomarkers, TUNEL assay , RT-qPCR and western blot analysis. The results indicated that the overexpression of RP105 contributed to an amelioration of myocardial histological damage, decreased leakage of creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), as well as a reduction in the number of TUNEL-positive cardiomyocytes. The levels of positively associated modulators of apoptosis and autophagy were also significantly downregulated by RP105, whereas Bcl-2, which plays an opposite role in inducing apoptosis and autophagy, was inversely upregulated. Furthermore, the overexpression of RP105 led to the repression of TLR4 activity and the phosphorylation of NF-κB/p65, as well as the reduced production of the cytokines interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α). Taken together, these data suggest that RP105 protects the myocardium against apoptosis and autophagy, and plays a cardioprotective role during I/R injury. This is most likely due to the inactivation of TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway. Thus, RP105 may represent an innovative therapeutic target for attenuating MIRI.

/pdf/radioprotective-105-kda-protein-attenuates-ischemia-1sjpjftjuu.pdf

Radioprotective 105 kDa protein attenuates ischemia/reperfusion-induced myocardial apoptosis and autophagy by inhibiting the activation of the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway in rats.

Jing Chen

Papers

Overexpression of miR-429 induces mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition (MET) in metastatic ovarian cancer cells.

LncRNA H19 ameliorates myocardial infarction-induced myocardial injury and maladaptive cardiac remodelling by regulating KDM3A.

Inhibition of neointimal hyperplasia in the rat carotid artery injury model by a HMGB1 inhibitor

Nobiletin ameliorates myocardial ischemia and reperfusion injury by attenuating endoplasmic reticulum stress-associated apoptosis through regulation of the PI3K/AKT signal pathway.

Radioprotective 105 kDa protein attenuates ischemia/reperfusion-induced myocardial apoptosis and autophagy by inhibiting the activation of the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway in rats.