非编码RNA调控内皮间质转化在疾病中的研究进展

Research progress of non-coding RNAs in regulating endothelial to mesenchymal transition in diseases

内皮间质转化(endothelial to mesenchymal transition,EndMT)是内皮细胞失去其内皮细胞表型和功能而获得间充质细胞表型和功能的过程。在胚胎时期,EndMT是心脏瓣膜、肺动脉和主动脉发育的必须途径。近年来大量研究表明,EndMT也参与如动脉粥样硬化、心肌纤维化、肺动脉高压、脑血管畸形等心血管疾病,以及器官纤维化和肿瘤等疾病的发生发展。非编码RNA(non-coding RNAs,ncRNAs)是指由基因组转录而成的不编码蛋白质的RNA分子。研究表明,ncRNAs异常表达可以通过调控EndMT参与多种疾病的发生发展,此类具有调控功能的ncRNAs主要包括微小RNA(microRNA,miRNA)、长链非编码RNA(long non-coding RNA,lncRNA)和环状RNA(circular RNA,circRNA)。该综述总结了ncRNAs在多种疾病中调控EndMT的分子机制,讨论了其在疾病治疗中的应用前景,为临床EndMT相关疾病治疗提供了新思路。

Endothelial to mesenchymal transition(EndMT)is a process in which endothelial cells lose their endothelial phenotype and function and gain mesenchymal phenotype and function.During the embryonic period,EndMT is an essential mechanism for the development of heart valves,pulmonary arteries and aorta.In recent years,numerous studies have shown that EndMT is also involved in the occurrence and development of cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis,cardiac fibrosis,pulmonary hypertension,and cerebrovascular malformation.In addition,EndMT is also an important mechanism of other organ fibrosis and tumors.Non-coding RNAs(ncRNAs)refer to RNAs that are transcribed from the genome but do not translate into proteins.Studies have shown that the abnormal expression of ncRNAs can participate in various diseases by regulating EndMT.Such ncRNAs with regulatory functions mainly include microRNA(miRNA),long non-coding RNA(lncRNA)and circular RNA(circRNA).This review summarizes the molecular mechanisms by which ncRNAs regulate EndMT in various diseases,looking forward to the application prospects of ncRNAs in the treatment of EndMT-related diseases.