Long non-coding RNA SMILR regulates genes involved in cytokinesis in human vascular smooth muscle cell

In response to blood vessel wall injury, aberrant proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells causes pathological remodelling. The controlling mechanisms involved are, however, not completely understood. We recently showed that the intergenic human, poorly-conserved long non-coding RNA, SMILR, promotes vSMC proliferation. Here, using deep RNA-sequencing of vSMCs with SMILR knockdown or overexpression, we identified an interconnected cell cycle network controlled by SMILR. SMILR inhibition led to vSMC binucleation and mitotic arrest. Overall design: RNA sequencing was performed on primary Human Saphenous Vein Smooth Muscle Cells (HSVSMCs), stimulated with IL1a (10 ng/mL) and PDGF-ßß (20 ng/mL), exposed to either SMILR depletion via siRNA (siSMILR) or overexpression via lentivirus (SMILR_LV). Respective control corresponds to siCONTROL or empty lentivirus. Each treatment was done in triplicates.