**Implications of MicroRNAs in the Vascular Homeostasis and Remodeling**

Seahyoung Lee, Eunhyun Choi, Min-Ji Cha and Ki-Chul Hwang

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/60740

#### **Abstract**

Vascular remodeling or arterial remodeling is a process of adaptive alteration of vascular wall architecture and leads to the endothelial cell (EC) dysfunction and synthetic or contractile phenotypic change of VSMCs, and the infiltration of mono‐ cytes and Macrophages that promotes vascular diseases including atherosclerosis. Recent findings have demonstrated that microRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in regulating gene expression at posttranscriptional level and disease pathogenesis. A change of miRNA expression profiles plays key roles in the gene expressions and the regulation of cellular functions. In this chapter, we summarize the vascular remodel‐ ing-related miRNAs and their functions in vascular biology.

**Keywords:** Vascular remodeling, vascular homeostasis, smooth muscle cells, endo‐ thelial cells, macrophage, microRNAs, vascular smooth muscle cell phenotypic switch

### **1. Introduction**

Vascular remodeling (or arterial remodeling) is a process of adaptive alteration of vascular wall architecture and is caused by variety of environmental stimuli such as oxidative stress, vascular injury, and hemodynamic stress [1]. Endothelial cells (ECs) and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) compose the arteries and play critical roles in vascular remodeling in conjunction with inflammatory cells such as monocytes or macrophages [2]. During vascular

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remodeling, the EC dysfunction, synthetic or contractile phenotypic change of VSMCs, and the infiltration of monocytes and macrophages promote vascular diseases including athero‐ sclerosis [3, 4]. Therefore, modulation of VSMC phenotype, maintenance of ECs, and regula‐ tion of inflammation in the vessel wall are important in arterial function and homeostasis.

Recent findings have been demonstrated that microRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in regulat‐ ing gene expressions at posttranscriptional level and disease pathogenesis [5, 6]. Importantly, altered specific set of miRNAs is closely related to cell fate determination, tissue function, and homeostasis [7, 8], indicating that miRNAs plays key roles in the gene expressions and the regulation of cellular functions [9]. Consequently, the change of miRNA expressions can lead to VSMC phenotype switch, EC dysfunction, and the inflammatory response and lipid accumulation of macrophage in vascular pathophysiology [10–12].

In this chapter, we summarize the vascular remodeling-related miRNAs and the function of these miRNAs in vascular biology, and suggest novel therapeutic strategies for the treatment and/or prevention of vascular diseases via controlling the expressions of miRNA regulation.
