Mechanical Stretch Modulates MicroRNA 21 Expression, Participating in Proliferation and Apoptosis in Cultured Human Aortic Smooth Muscle Cells

Abstract

Cyclic stretch modulates miR-21 expression in cultured HASMCs, and miR-21 plays important roles in regulating proliferation and apoptosis mediated by stretch. Stretch upregulates miR-21 expression at least in part at the transcription level and AP-1 is essential for stretch-induced miR-21 expression.