Table 3.
Epigenetic modifications in smooth muscle cells in AAAs.
| Epigenetic Modification | Cellular Origin | Regulation | Target Gene(s) | Related Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Non-Coding RNAs | ||||
| miRNA-15b-5p | SMC | Upregulated | ACSS2 | Promotes SMC apoptosis |
| miRNA-23b | SMC | FOXO4 | Inhibits AAA formation; maintains SMC mature phenotype, inhibits phenotypic modulation | |
| miRNA-96-5p | SMC | NFAT5 | Promotes SMC apoptosis | |
| miRNA-126-5p | SMC | Downregulated | VEPH1 | Inhibits AAA formation; overexpression inhibits MMP-9 and MMP-2 expression and promotes SMC differentiation |
| miRNA-143/145 | SMC | Downregulated | SRF, myocardin, KLF4/5, MRTF-B | Inhibits phenotypic modulation in SMC after vessel injury |
| miRNA-199a-5p | SMC | Upregulated | SIRT1 | Increases SMC senescence and ROS production |
| miRNA-504 | SMC | Downregulated | p53 | Inhibits p53-induced SMC apoptosis |
| miRNA-516a | SMC | Upregulated | MTHFR | Overexpression leads to increased expression of MMP-2 and decreased expression of TIMP-1 |
| CRNDE | SMC | Downregulated | SMAD3 | Increases SMC proliferation, inhibits SMC apoptosis; inhibits AAA progression |
| H19 | SMC | Upregulated | HIF1α | Increases SMC apoptosis |
| PVT1 | SMC | Upregulated | Induces SMC phenotypic modulation | |
| SENCE | SMC | Downregulated | Increases SMC apoptosis and expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9; decreases AAA formation | |
| SMYD2 | SMC | Downregulated | Increased promoter methylation in AAA | |
AAA, abdominal aortic aneurysm; SMC, smooth muscle cell.