Synergistic induction of miR-126 by hypoxia and HDAC inhibitors in cardiac myocytes

► Micro-RNA 126 is an endothelial-specific pro-angiogenic miR encoded by the Egfl7 gene. ► Expression of miR-126 was activated in cardiac myocytes by hypoxia and HDAC inhibition. ► Hypoxia and TSA activated survival kinases ERK1/2 and Akt in a miR-126-dependent manner. ► Mir-RNA-126 plays a pro-survival role in hypoxic cardiac myocytes. ► Mir-126 activation may account in part for the cardioprotective properties of HDAC inhibitors.