Aberrant expression of miR-133a in endothelial cells inhibits angiogenesis by reducing pro-angiogenic but increasing anti-angiogenic gene expression.

Angiogenesis is a multi-factorial physiological process deregulated in human diseases characterised by excessive or insufficient blood vessel formation. Emerging evidence highlights a novel role for microRNAs as regulators of angiogenesis. Previous studies addressing the effect of miR-133a expression in endothelial cells during blood vessel formation have reported conflicting results.