Animal research shows miR-224 contributes to PAH
A small molecule called microRNA-224-5p (miR-224) appears to play an important role in the changes to the lung blood vessels that occur in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Researchers found that miR-224 levels were higher in cells from people with PAH and in several animal models, and that increasing miR-224 worsened the disease.
In contrast, blocking miR-224 reduced abnormal blood vessel changes and improved right heart function in mice and rats.
The researchers believe miR-224 contributes to PAH by disrupting the balance between two signalling pathways that control blood vessel cell growth. Blocking miR-224 could be a potential new treatment approach for PAH.
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