MiR-34a and endothelial biology

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous-22 nt long RNAs that play important gene-regulatory roles in cells by pairing to the mRNAs of protein-coding genes to direct their posttranscriptional repression. Many miRNAs have been identified in endothelial cells and play important roles in endothelial biology. miR-34a is relatively early identified in endothelial cells and has been involved in regulating endothelial functions, angiogenesis, differentiation, senescence, inflammatory response, responses to shear stress, and mitochondrial function. This review outlines the current understanding of miR-34a in endothelial biology and discusses its potential as a therapeutic target to treat vascular diseases.

Automated summary

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small endogenous RNAs that regulate gene expression by binding to the mRNAs of protein-coding genes. In endothelial cells, miR-34a is an early identified miRNA that plays important roles in regulating endothelial functions, angiogenesis, differentiation, senescence, inflammatory response, responses to shear stress, and mitochondrial function. This review provides an overview of the current understanding of miR-34a in endothelial biology and discusses its potential as a therapeutic target for vascular diseases.