Reverse the down regulation of miR-92b-3p by hypoxia can suppress the proliferation of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells by targeting USP28.

MiR-92b-3p has been shown to take part in several disease by regulate proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation and metastasis. However, the role of miR-92b-3p in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) has not been illustrated clearly. Here, we found the level of miR-92b-3p which mainly located in the smooth muscle layer was down-regulation under hypoxic condition. It can inhibit pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) proliferation and cell cycle progression. Through luciferase assay, miR-92b-3p bound to the 3'-UTR of USP28. we found that there was a significant negative relation between the level of miR-92b-3p and USP28 at protein level and reversed the down regulation of miR-92b-3p by hypoxia can suppress the proliferation of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells by targeting USP28. These results suggested that miR-92b-3p acted a potential proliferation regulator in PASMCs and it maybe a novel treatment target of PAH.