Effects of down-regulation of microRNA-23a on TNF-α-induced endothelial cell apoptosis through caspase-dependent pathways.

Aims: Endothelial cell injury induced by inflammatory factors plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of numerous vascular diseases. MicroRNAs are well known to be implicated in cell proliferation and apoptosis in inflammatory responses; however, it remains to be determined whether microRNAs are associated with tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α-mediated endothelial cell injury. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of microRNAs in TNF-α-induced endothelial cell apoptosis.