Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 14, 2026

Analysis of Combinatorial miRNA Treatments to Regulate Cell Cycle and Angiogenesis
11:44

Analysis of Combinatorial miRNA Treatments to Regulate Cell Cycle and Angiogenesis

Published on: March 30, 2019

8.1K

MicroRNA-129-5p inhibits vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation by targeting Wnt5a

Yiming Zhang1, Zhao Liu1, Min Zhou1

  • 1Department of Vascular Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210008, P.R. China.

Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine
|October 5, 2016
PubMed

Insights

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are implicated in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) development. This study found that miR-129-5p inhibits smooth muscle cell proliferation and induces apoptosis, impacting AAA formation.

Area of Science:

  • Vascular Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Aberrant smooth muscle cells (SMCs) are crucial in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) pathogenesis.
  • The specific roles of microRNAs (miRNAs) in AAA development remain incompletely understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of specific microRNAs in AAA formation.
  • To elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which miRNAs affect SMCs in the context of AAA.

Main Methods:

  • Differential miRNA expression profiling using miRNA arrays in a mouse model of AAA.
  • Transfection of human SMCs with miR-129-5p.
  • MTT assays for cell proliferation, flow cytometry for apoptosis analysis.
  • Bioinformatic prediction and luciferase assays to identify miRNA targets.

Main Results:

  • miR-129-5p was identified as differentially expressed in AAA.
  • miR-129-5p significantly inhibited human SMC proliferation and induced apoptosis.
  • Wnt5a was confirmed as a direct target gene of miR-129-5p.

Conclusions:

  • miR-129-5p acts as a suppressor of SMC proliferation and an inducer of apoptosis.
  • miR-129-5p modulates the Wnt5a signaling pathway in SMCs.
  • These findings highlight miR-129-5p as a potential therapeutic target for AAA.
Keywords:
Wnt5aabdominal aortic aneurysmmiRNA-129-5p

More Related Videos

An In Vitro Protocol for Evaluating MicroRNA Levels, Functions, and Associated Target Genes in Tumor Cells09:45

An In Vitro Protocol for Evaluating MicroRNA Levels, Functions, and Associated Target Genes in Tumor Cells

Published on: May 21, 2019

9.0K
Genome-wide Screen for miRNA Targets Using the MISSION Target ID Library08:40

Genome-wide Screen for miRNA Targets Using the MISSION Target ID Library

Published on: April 6, 2012

18.1K

Related Concept Videos

MicroRNAs01:22

MicroRNAs

MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns (non-coding regions of a gene) or intergenic regions (stretches of DNA present between genes). Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself, forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After the pre-miRNA...
4.2K
MicroRNAs01:22

MicroRNAs

MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns—non-coding regions of a gene—or intergenic regions—stretches of DNA present between genes. Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After...
24.5K
Canonical Wnt Signaling Pathway02:54

Canonical Wnt Signaling Pathway

The gene encoding the main signaling molecules of the Wnt signaling pathways (the Wnt proteins) was discovered almost four decades ago by Nüsslein-Volhard and Wieschaus. They identified and originally named the gene "wingless" (wg) after a phenotype discovered during their landmark genetic screen in Drosophila for body pattern defects. At around the same time, another researcher named Harold Varmus found that a murine tumor virus activates the mammalian wg homolog, Int-1, which...
10.9K
Non-Canonical Wnt Signaling Pathways01:41

Non-Canonical Wnt Signaling Pathways

Wnt is a zygotic effect gene that is expressed during very early embryonic development. It regulates various processes in animals starting from early development through the adult stage, such as organogenesis in the embryo and maintenance of neuronal and blood stem cells. Wnt proteins can induce a wide variety of intracellular pathways depending upon the specific abilities of different Wnt ligands to form a complex with shared and cognate receptors in the presence of different co-receptors. The...
8.5K
Regulation of Angiogenesis and Blood Supply01:24

Regulation of Angiogenesis and Blood Supply

Rapidly dividing tumors, embryos, and wounded tissues require more oxygen than usual, lowering the oxygen concentration in the blood. At low oxygen or hypoxic conditions, an oxygen-sensitive transcription factor called the hypoxia-inducible factor 1 or HIF1 is activated. HIF1 is a dimeric protein of alpha (ɑ) and beta (β) subunits.  Under optimal oxygen conditions, HIF1β is present in the nucleus while HIF1ɑ remains in the cytosol. HIF1ɑ is hydroxylated by prolyl...
3.9K