Figure 7. Putative model of miR-126 function in endothelial cells.
miR-126 represses SPRED1 and PIK2R2, which negatively regulate VEGF signaling (and possibly other growth factor signaling pathways) via the MAP kinase and PI3 kinase pathways, respectively. Thus, miR-126 promotes VEGF signaling, angiogenesis and vascular integrity by inhibiting protein production of endogenous VEGF repressors within endothelial cells.