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Updated: Mar 11, 2026

Quantitative Analysis of Cellular Composition in Advanced Atherosclerotic Lesions of Smooth Muscle Cell Lineage-Tracing Mice
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Quantitative Analysis of Cellular Composition in Advanced Atherosclerotic Lesions of Smooth Muscle Cell Lineage-Tracing Mice

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Oleanolic acid suppresses vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation by increasing lincRNA-p21 expression

Di Han1, Xuejuan Zhang1, Jietao Zhang1

  • 1Department of General Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong 266031, P.R. China.

Oncology Letters
|December 1, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Oleanolic acid (OA) inhibits vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation, a key factor in arteriosclerosis. OA increases levels of lincRNA-p21, suggesting a new therapeutic target for preventing and treating this condition.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Biology
  • Molecular Medicine
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Arteriosclerosis involves arterial wall thickening and hardening, significantly risking human health.
  • Aberrant proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) drives arteriosclerosis onset and progression.
  • Suppression of VSMC proliferation is a validated anti-arteriosclerosis strategy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of oleanolic acid (OA) on VSMC proliferation.
  • To explore the role of long non-coding RNA p21 (lincRNA-p21) in OA-mediated inhibition of VSMC proliferation.
  • To evaluate targeting lincRNA-p21 as a therapeutic strategy for arteriosclerosis.

Main Methods:

  • Treatment of VSMCs with oleanolic acid (OA).
  • Measurement of VSMC proliferation rates.
  • Analysis of lincRNA-p21 expression levels.
  • Experimental suppression of lincRNA-p21 to assess its role in OA's effects.

Main Results:

  • Oleanolic acid (OA) significantly inhibited VSMC proliferation.
  • OA treatment led to increased expression of arteriosclerosis-associated lincRNA-p21.
  • Suppression of lincRNA-p21 reversed the anti-proliferative effects of OA on VSMCs.

Conclusions:

  • Targeting long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) presents a promising strategy for arteriosclerosis prevention and treatment.
  • Oleanolic acid ameliorates arteriosclerosis by upregulating lincRNA-p21, thereby inhibiting VSMC proliferation.
Keywords:
long non-coding RNAoleanolic acidvascular smooth muscle cell

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