Endothelial transcription factors Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) and KLF2 are implicated in protection against atherogenesis. Steady-state microRNA (miR) regulation of KLFs in vivo is accessible by screening region-specific endothelial miRs and their targets.

A subset of differentially expressed endothelial miRs was identified in atherosusceptible versus protected regions of normal swine aorta. In silico analyses predicted highly conserved binding sites in the 3′-untranslated region (3′UTR) of KLF4 for 5 miRs of the subset (miR-26a, -26b, -29a, -92a, and -103) and a single binding site for a miR-92a complex in the 3′UTR of KLF2. Of these, only miR-92a knockdown and knock-in resulted in responses of KLF4 and KLF2 expression in human arterial endothelial cells. Dual luciferase reporter assays demonstrated functional interactions of miR-92a with full-length 3′UTR sequences of both KLFs and with the specific binding elements therein. Two evolutionarily conserved miR-92a sites in KLF4 3′UTR and 1 site in KLF2 3′UTR were functionally validated. Knockdown of miR-92a in vitro resulted in partial rescue from cytokine-induced proinflammatory marker expression (monocyte chemotactic protein 1, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, E-selectin, and endothelial nitric oxide synthase) that was attributable to enhanced KLF4 expression. Leukocyte-human arterial endothelial cell adhesion experiments supported this conclusion. In swine aortic arch endothelium, a site of atherosusceptibility where miR-92a expression was elevated, both KLFs were expressed at low levels relative to protected thoracic aorta.

miR-92a coregulates KLF4 and KLF2 expression in arterial endothelium and contributes to phenotype heterogeneity associated with regional atherosusceptibility and protection in vivo.