MicroRNA and disease models: focus on cardiac fibrosis

A subset of regulatory non-coding RNAs, designated as microRNAs (miRNAs, miRs), emerged as strong post-transcriptional regulators. MiRNAs target (partially) complementary sequences of mRNAs thus repressing transcript expression and subsequently altering the cellular transcriptome. Cardiac diseases (e.g. development of fibrosis) are closely linked to deregulated gene expression and novel therapeutic interventions are needed to counteract disease progression. Interestingly, miRNA-based therapeutics are currently being tested in various cardiovascular disease settings with promising results. In this review we summarize recent approaches to delineate cardiac miRNA function and therapeutic utility especially cardiac fibrosis.

► MicroRNAs (miRs) are non-coding RNAs and powerful regulators of cardiac gene expression.
► Misexpression of miRs has been associated with cardiac disease.
► Cardiac fibrosis is regulated by several miRs.
► Therapeutic modulation of fibrosis-relevant miRs is promising to inhibit fibrosis progression.