Integrin α 5 Is Regulated by miR-218-5p in Endothelial Progenitor Cells

Abstract

Kidney endothelial cells are sensitive to hypoxic injury. This cell type expresses integrin α5 (ITGA5), which is essential to the Tie2 signaling cascade. The microRNA miR-218 is known to increase after hypoxia, but the microRNA’s role in regulating ITGA5 protein synthesis is unclear. In this study, the authors found that miR-218-5p specifically binds to ITGA5 mRNA in human kidney-derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs). In an animal model of ischemia/reperfusion injury, cells pretreated with an miR-218-5p mimic were delivered efficiently, whereas an animal model containing an miR-218-2 deletion specific to angioblasts resulted in kidney dysgenesis and impaired migration of mouse kidney-derived EPCs. Understanding the regulation of prominent signaling pathways in EPCs may inform optimization of therapeutic techniques for addressing kidney endothelial cell injury.