A Primer on the Role of MicroRNAs in Endothelial Biology and Vascular Disease

SummaryEndothelial cells are highly proliferative and motile during vascular development. However, as blood vessels mature and stabilize the endothelial lining becomes quiescent, and cell–cell interactions among endothelial cells generate a stable barrier between the blood and tissue. Rather than simply functioning as an inert barrier, endothelial cells constantly sense and respond to environmental cues. Activation of the endothelium can promote the loss of cell–cell adhesion and an increase in the motility and proliferation of the endothelium. This process is requisite for tissue repair, but also plays a role in vascular pathogenesis and is especially relevant to kidney injury. The molecular mechanisms that facilitate these phenotypic alterations are only partially understood. Recent work has shown that microRNAs can modulate endothelial phenotype. These new insights have shed light on the complex mechanisms that endothelial cells use to respond to environmental stimuli. This review addresses the known roles that microRNAs play in controlling angiogenic and inflammatory signals in endothelial cells, and illustrates that microRNAs are important modulators of endothelial function in vascular disease, and therefore represent promising therapeutic targets.