Proliferation of pulmonary endothelial cells is controlled by small RNA fragments

Uncontrolled proliferation of endothelial cells in small pulmonary arteries is a key feature in the pathogenesis of pulmonary hypertension. Now it has been shown that small RNA fragments (microRNAs) affect the expression of important cell cycle regulators and, as such, might control a proproliferative phenotype of vascular endothelial cells. The identified pathway appears to be cell type specific and offers novel insights in the pathogenesis of pulmonary hypertension.