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Role of MicroRNAs in Cardiac Remodeling and Heart Failure

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Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous, short (~22 nucleotide), evolutionarily conserved, non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. Recent evidence suggests that miRNAs are differentially expressed in the failing myocardium and play an important role in progression of heart failure by targeting genes that govern diverse functions in cardiac remodeling process including myocyte hypertrophy, excitation-contraction coupling, increased myocyte loss, and myocardial fibrosis. In addition to their role in adverse cardiac remodeling, miRNAs hold promise as biomarkers of disease progression in heart failure given their presence in circulation and enhanced stability. Further development of miR-based therapeutics may allow for modulation of cardiac and/or systemic levels of specific miRNAs in patients with heart failure . Here, we summarize current knowledge of miRNAs in relation to their role in regulating various aspects of the cardiac remodeling process and discuss their potential use as biomarkers and/or therapeutic targets in heart failure.

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Conflict of interest disclosure

This research was supported by research funds from the N.I.H. (RO1 HL58081, HL-73017-0, HL089543-01 and T32HL007081). D.L.M. is a consultant for Miragen (Boulder, Colo.). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement in any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

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  1. Center for Cardiovascular Research, Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Ave. Campus, PO Box 8066, St Louis, MO, 63110–1093, USA

    Veli K. Topkara & Douglas L. Mann

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  1. Veli K. Topkara
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  2. Douglas L. Mann
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Correspondence to Douglas L. Mann.

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Topkara, V.K., Mann, D.L. Role of MicroRNAs in Cardiac Remodeling and Heart Failure. Cardiovasc Drugs Ther 25, 171–182 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10557-011-6289-5

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