MiR-222 in Cardiovascular Diseases: Physiology and Pathology

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs and miRs) are endogenous 19-22 nucleotide, small noncoding RNAs with highly conservative and tissue specific expression. They can negatively modulate target gene expressions through decreasing transcription or posttranscriptional inducing mRNA decay. Increasing evidence suggests that deregulated miRNAs play an important role in the genesis of cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, circulating miRNAs can be biomarkers for cardiovascular diseases. MiR-222 has been reported to play important roles in a variety of physiological and pathological processes in the heart. Here we reviewed the recent studies about the roles of miR-222 in cardiovascular diseases. MiR-222 may be a potential cardiovascular biomarker and a new therapeutic target in cardiovascular diseases.

Figure 1

Multiple physiological functions of miR-222 (miR-222 has been found to participate in multiple physiological functions in cardiovascular system. In cardiac myocyte, miR-222 could promote cardiomyocytes growth, proliferation, and survival through directly targeting P27, HIPK-1, HIPK-2, and CITED-4 in traditional exercise pathway. In stem cell, miR-222 could promote CSCs transformation. In umbilical vein endothelial cells, miR-222 could exert angiogenesis function by targeting c-Kit).

Figure 2

Multiple pathological functions of miR-222 (miR-222 has been found to participate in multiple pathological functions in cardiovascular system. In myocardium, miR-222 could (1) promote cardiomyocyte proliferation and reduce cardiomyocyte apoptosis through P27 after ischemic injury; (2) inhibit autophagy through mTOR; (3) regulate blood vessels remolding through c-Kit and eNOS; (4) regulate ICAM-1 and IRF-2 to inhibit inflammation. In blood vessels, miR-222 could (1) stable the plaque and suppress the inflammation and (2) inhibited the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle by targeting p27).