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Review
. 2018 Jul;39(7):1073-1084.
doi: 10.1038/aps.2018.30. Epub 2018 Jun 7.

miRNAS in cardiovascular diseases: potential biomarkers, therapeutic targets and challenges

Shan-Shan Zhou  1   2 , Jing-Peng Jin  3 , Ji-Qun Wang  1   2 , Zhi-Guo Zhang  1   2 , Jonathan H Freedman  4 , Yang Zheng  5 , Lu Cai  2   6
Affiliations
Review

miRNAS in cardiovascular diseases: potential biomarkers, therapeutic targets and challenges

Shan-Shan Zhou et al. Acta Pharmacol Sin. 2018 Jul.

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the world. Although considerable progress has been made in the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of CVD, there is still a critical need for novel diagnostic biomarkers and new therapeutic interventions to decrease the incidence of this disease. Recently, there is increasing evidence that circulating miRNAs (miRNAs), i.e. endogenous, stable, single-stranded, short, non-coding RNAs, can be used as diagnostic biomarkers for CVD. Furthermore, miRNAs represent potential novel therapeutic targets for several cardiovascular disorders. In this review we provides an overview of the effects of several CVD; including heart failure, acute myocardial infarction, arrhythmias and pulmonary hypertension; on levels of circulating miRNAs. In addition, the use of miRNA as therapeutic targets is also discussed, as well as challenges and recommendations in their use in the diagnosis of CVD.

Keywords: biomarker; cardiovascular diseases; microRNA; therapeutic targets.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Biogenesis of circulating miRNAs. miRNAs are transcribed in the nucleus as pri-miRNAs with 5′-caps and 3'-polyA tails. Drosha removes the cap and polyA tail to generate pre- miRNAs, which are exported from the nucleus via Exportin 5. In the cytoplasm Dicer processes the pre-miRNA to mature miRNAs. Pre-miRNA and mature miRNA can (a) bind to RNA-binding proteins to be directly excreted from the cell, (b) packaged into microvesicles or (c) packed into exosomes and multi-vesicular bodies where the exosomes are then released. Pre-miRNA and mature miRNAs are taken into the bloodstream by endocytosis, binding to receptors or via membrane fusion.
Figure 2
Figure 2
miRNAs associated with the diagnosis and prognosis of heart failure, acute myocardial infarction and arrhythmia. miRNAs in blue boxes are associated with a single pathology, while those in yellow boxes with multiple pathologies.
Figure 3
Figure 3
miRNAs as therapeutic targets for cardiovascular diseases. Increased expression (arrow head) or decreased expression (bar-head) provides beneficial or protective effects in the treatment of CVD.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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