MicroRNAs and myocardial infarction

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: We will review the role of microRNAs (miRNAs), small noncoding RNAs with regulatory function, in myocardial infarction (MI). Specifically, we will examine the effect of MI on miRNAs' expression in the heart, the effect of MI on circulating miRNAs, which miRNAs' overexpression or downmodulation appears to have a therapeutic role in MI and which cardiac miRNAs are modulated by drugs/experimental molecules/cell transplantation strategies which have an established or potential therapeutic role in MI. RECENT FINDINGS: A rapidly increasing number of studies are showing that cardiac and circulating miRNAs are markedly altered in MI. These novel findings shed new light on the mechanisms that lead to MI complications, post-MI ventricular remodeling and cardiac repair. Further, recent studies show that circulating miRNAs may represent novel and sensitive biomarkers of MI and, possibly, also an intercellular signaling mechanism. Overexpression and downregulation of specific miRNAs are being evaluated as a novel approach to the treatment of MI. Finally, it appears that some established and potential MI therapies (approved drugs/experimental molecules/cell therapy interventions) may act, at least in part, via modulation of specific miRNAs. SUMMARY: Although miRNAs' role in MI is still largely uncharacterized, recent studies suggest that miRNAs may represent novel therapeutic targets and MI biomarkers.