Emerging role of non-coding RNAs and extracellular vesicles in cardioprotection by remote ischemic conditioning of the heart

Abstract

Remote ischemic conditioning of the heart (including pre-, per-, and post-conditioning) is a phenomenon where short episodes of non-lethal ischemia in the distant vessels within the heart or distant organs from the heart protects the myocardium against sustained ischemia/reperfusion injury. Several pathways have been proposed to be involved in the mechanisms of Remote ischemic conditioning. While triggers of Remote ischemic conditioning act in preconditioned areas, its mediators transduce protective signals via humoral or neuronal pathways to the heart. Remote ischemic conditioning is mediated via receptor and nonreceptor signaling through secondary mediators, which transfer the signal within the cardiomyocyte and activate cardioprotective pathways that lead to higher resistance of the heart to ischemia/reperfusion. Apparently, identification of endogenous signal molecules involved in the mechanisms of Remote ischemic conditioning have therapeutic implications in the management of patients suffering from myocardial ischemia through the development of diverse beneficial effects. Recently, different non-coding RNAs such as microRNAs or long non-coding RNAs have been identified as emerging factors that trigger protective mechanisms in the heart. These non-coding RNAs are transferred to the heart via extracellular vesicles that exert remote cardioprotection. This review is intended to summarize the existing knowledge about the potential role of extracellular vesicles as humoral transmitters of Remote ischemic conditioning and emphasize the involvement of non-coding RNAs in the mechanism of cardioprotection by Remote ischemic conditioning.

Keywords: Remote ischemic conditioning; cardioprotection; extracellular vesicles; microRNA; non-coding RNA.