MicroRNA-29b regulation of abdominal aortic aneurysm development

Tremendous efforts have been initiated to elucidate the molecular and pathophysiological characteristics of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) disease, which is a significant contributor to morbidity and mortality in the Western world. Recently, a novel class of small noncoding RNAs, called microRNAs, was identified as important transcriptional and posttranscriptional inhibitors of gene expression thought to simultaneously “fine tune” the translational output of multiple target messenger RNAs (mRNAs) by promoting mRNA degradation or inhibiting translation. Several research groups were able to identify the miR-29 family, and miR-29b in particular, as crucial regulators of—not only vascular fibrosis—but also cardiac-, kidney-, liver-, and skin-fibrosis. The current review briefly points out data indicating a causal role for miR-29 in various diseases, while focusing on its potential benefit during AAA initiation and propagation.