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MicroRNAs and Smooth Muscle Cells Phenotypic Switching in PAH

Abstract

Dongqing Guo, Lida Wu and Yuchun Gu

Smooth muscle cells undergo a switching from contractile phenotype to synthetic phenotype in pulmonary hypertension characterized by excessive proliferation and migration of smooth muscle cells. MicroRNAs are small noncoding RNAs that can negatively regulate gene expression by directly binding with the 3’-UTR of mRNA. Numerous microRNAs have been reported to modulate the smooth muscle cells phenotypic switching and been urged to become possible therapeutic targets for pulmonary hypertension. This review will focus on the roles of microRNAs in regulating smooth muscle cellular phenotypic switching in PAH.