MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are noncoding RNAs with a short length of about 22 nucleotides. As major modulators participating in RNA interference, they affect cellular behaviors by regulating the expression of diverse genes at post-transcriptional levels. miR-15b is a member of the miR-15/16 family, which is broadly expressed in major tissues and specially enriched in the endovascular system of human beings. miR-15/16 affects cellular proliferation, apoptosis, invasion and angiogenesis. In this review, we summarize the role and the underlying mechanism of miR-15b as well as other miR-15/16 family members in different cells, especially in endothelial cells. We focus on the diverse roles of miR-15b in the occurrence, progression and prognosis of vascular diseases, with particular emphasis on preeclampsia, a hypertensive disorder related to endovascular dysfunction in the placenta.
微小RNA(MicroRNA, miRNA)是长度为22个核苷酸的小片段非编码RNA,作为RNA干扰的参与者之一,其通过在转录后水平调节各种基因的表达,进而对细胞的生命活动产生广泛影响。miR-15b是miR-15/16家族一员,是一类在机体各系统、特别是血管内皮系统广泛表达的微小RNA,主要影响细胞的增殖、凋亡、侵袭、成管等行为。文章主要对miR-15b及相关家族成员在各类细胞、特别是血管内皮细胞的生物学行为、作用机制及miR-15b在心血管相关疾病的发生、发展及预后等过程中的作用进行了详细阐述。同时,文章对miR-15b相关家族成员在以胎盘内皮发育异常为病理基础的妊娠期高血压疾病如子痫前期的发病机制中的作用进行了探讨。.