The mir-200 family regulates key pathogenic events in ascending aortas of individuals with bicuspid aortic valves.

We propose that a miR-200-dependent process of EndMT/EMT is a plausible biological mechanism rendering the BAV ascending aorta more prone to aneurysm development. Although initially supported by a miR-200c/ZEB feedback loop, this process is most probably advanced by cooperation of other miRNAs.