6347

CCL2

GDCF-2|HC11|HSMCR30|MCAF|MCP-1|MCP1|SCYA2|SMC-CF;chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2;CCL2;chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2

C-C motif chemokine 2|monocyte chemoattractant protein 1|monocyte chemoattractant protein-1|monocyte chemotactic and activating factor|monocyte chemotactic protein 1|monocyte secretory protein JE|small inducible cytokine A2 (monocyte chemotactic protein 1

17q11.2-q12

protein-coding

Count: CCL2; 6347

BACKGROUND: pulmonary hypertension (PH) is driven by diverse pathogenic etiologies. Owing to their pleiotropic actions, microRNA molecules are potential candidates for coordinated regulation of these disease stimuli. METHODS AND RESULTS: Using a network biology approach, we identify microRNA associated with multiple pathogenic pathways central to PH. Specifically, microRNA-21 (miR-21) is predicted as a PH-modifying microRNA, regulating targets integral to bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) and Rho/Rho-kinase signaling as well as functional pathways associated with hypoxia, inflammation, and genetic haploinsufficiency of BMP receptor type 2. To validate these predictions, we have found that hypoxia and BMP receptor type 2 signaling independently upregulate miR-21 in cultured pulmonary arterial endothelial cells. In a reciprocal feedback loop, miR-21 downregulates BMP receptor type 2 expression. Furthermore, miR-21 directly represses RhoB expression and Rho-kinase activity, inducing molecular changes consistent with decreased angiogenesis and vasodilation. In vivo, miR-21 is upregulated in pulmonary tissue from several rodent models of PH and in humans with PH. On induction of disease in miR-21-null mice, RhoB expression and Rho-kinase activity are increased, accompanied by exaggerated manifestations of PH. CONCLUSIONS: A network-based bioinformatic approach coupled with confirmatory in vivo data delineates a central regulatory role for miR-21 in PH. Furthermore, this study highlights the unique utility of network biology for identifying disease-modifying microRNA in PH.