Anti‐apoptosis endothelial cell‐secreted microRNA‐195‐5p promotes pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration in pulmonary arterial hypertension

In the pathological mechanism of pulmonary arterial hypertension, the role of apoptosis‐resistant pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (PVECs/AR) has been emphasized on the pulmonary vascular remodeling. In the present study, we investigated whether PVECs/AR can promote the proliferation and migration of pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMCs), and to study the role of miR‐195‐5p in the crosstalk between these two types of cells. We confirmed that PVECs/AR can promote the proliferation and migration of PASMCs in a co‐culture system of AR/PVECs and PASMCs. Additionally, after exposure to hypoxia for 12 or 24 h, AR/PVECs had a higher mature miR‐195‐5p level than PVECs (P