MicroRNA Regulation of Angiogenesis and Arteriogenesis

MicroRNAs are short, nonprotein-coding RNA molecules that play a crucial role in the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. By binding to specific target sequences, mostly located in the 3′-untranslated region of their target mRNA, they can induce mRNA decay or translational inhibition. Unlike siRNA, microRNAs show imperfect matching to their target mRNAs and can therefore modulate the expression of several mRNA genes at once. Although microRNAs have already been extensively studied in invertebrates, their function in mammalian organisms and in human disease is largely unknown. Several studies have shown an important regulatory function of microRNAs in embryonic and postnatal blood vessel development. Here, we provide an overview on these recent findings and summarize these so-called “angiomiRs” and their mode of action.