MicroRNAs as Modulators of Endothelial Differentiation of Stem Cells

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRs) are a class of small (~22 nucleotides), widely distributed, and highly conserved non-coding RNA molecules and play an important post-transcriptional regulatory role by targeting mRNA. Embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells (ESCs and iPSC, respectively) hold great promise for vascular regenerative therapies. However, several limitations currently prohibit their therapeutic use. The importance of miRs in controlling the gene expression profile of a particular cell type is emerging and a multitude of miRs have been identified that play key roles in vascular development and regeneration. A combination of pluripotency transcription factors and different miRs not only enhances the pluripotency of stem cells but also has been reported to enhance their endothelial differentiation. This review will summarize the findings that focus different miR clusters in the induction, maintenance, and directed endothelial differentiation of ESCs and iPSCs.