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Smooth muscle microRNAs regulate serotonin‐induced contraction in pulmonary and systemic arteries
Author(s) -
Dahan Diana,
Hellstrand Per,
Swärd Karl,
Albinsson Sebastian
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.27.1_supplement.1196.1
Subject(s) - vascular smooth muscle , contractility , rho associated protein kinase , endocrinology , medicine , microrna , contraction (grammar) , biology , serotonin , aorta , receptor , chemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , signal transduction , smooth muscle , biochemistry , gene
MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, non coding RNA that regulate mRNA expression levels and/or translational efficiency. MiRNAs are important for vascular smooth muscle development and function by regulating phenotypic modulation and contractile responses. Contractility of vascular smooth muscle is essential for regulation of blood pressure and blood flow. A number of contractile agonists can affect vascular reactivity and altered sensitivity to these agonists may play a role in vascular disease. The aim of this study was to identify the role of miRNAs in vascular responses to various contractile agonists. Vascular reactivity was assessed in isolated pulmonary arteries and aortic rings from tamoxifen‐inducible and smooth muscle specific Dicer KO mice 5 weeks post tamoxifen and in constitutive miR‐143/145 KO mice. Our results show a specific increase in the contractile response to serotonin in the pulmonary artery and aorta. This effect was not found in miR‐143/145 KO mice and is therefore likely to be dependent on other smooth muscle miRNAs. The increased contractile response to serotonin in Dicer KO vessels was reduced by Src‐inhibitors but less sensitive to Rho‐kinase inhibition. The precise mechanisms for augmented serotonin‐induced contraction in Dicer KO vessels are now under investigation and may identify a novel role for specific miRNAs in vascular disease.