Exploring the causes of arteriosclerosis from the expressed microRNA by the dedifferentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells.

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 23590295
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: General pharmacology
• Research Institution: Gunma University
• Principal Investigator: NAKAMURA Akio 群馬大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 講師 (30282388)
• Project Period (FY): 2011-04-28 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 血管平滑筋細胞 / 形質転換 / マイクロRNA

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We indicated that the exposure of nicotine had changed the human vascular smooth muscle cells (HSMCs) phenotype from contractile-type to a synthetic-like type by the results of the exhaustive gene expression profiling analysis. When the HSMCs were de-differentiated into synthetic phenotype, their migration increases, which might be the result of enhanced activation of MAPKs. We propose that nicotine directly may promote the migration of HSMCs from the tunica media to atheromatous plaques in the vascular intima. We have identified a microRNA that varies in accordance with the de-differentiation of the HSMCs.

Free Research Field

Molecular Pharmacology