Besides cancer, miR-212 has also been implicated in regulating organogenesis by playing a key role in modulating epithelial stromal interactions (Ucar et al., 2010). In addition, miR-212 expression can be regulated by various hormones, adding another layer of complexity to their regulation and role in development and disease (Godoy et al., 2011). Studies from Turrini et al. reveal that miR-212 may mediate drug resistance by targeting the ABC efflux transporter (Turrini et al., 2012). Two recent reports implicate the importance of the miR-132/212 family in cardiovascular development and disorders. In the first study, smRNAs deep sequencing analysis in vascular smooth muscle cells show that the miR-132/miR-212 cluster is induced by the hormone angiotensin II and by targeting PTEN, increases the expression of the gene MCP1 (Monocyte chemotactic protein 1), a key regulator of cardiovascular disorders (Jin et al., 2012). In the other study, Ucar et al. demonstrate that these miRNAs activate calcineurin signaling in cardiomyocytes by targeting the transcription factor Foxo3, and thus play an important role in cardiac hypertrophy (Ucar et al., 2012).
