MicroRNAs and the response to injury in atherosclerosis

SummaryEndothelial cells (ECs) at arterial branching points are physiologically subjected to chronic damage by disturbed blood flow, which triggers a vascular wound healing response. Additional damage by hyperlipid -aemia perturbs this delicate balance of en-dothelial injury and regeneration, and the progressive accumulation of noxious modified lipoproteins leads to macrophage death. Several miRNAs such as miR-92a and miR-712, which modulate EC proliferation and inflammation, are up-regulated by disturbed flow in ECs, and contribute to atherosclerosis. In addition, reduced endothelial levels of miR-126–5p limit…