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MicroRNAs as the actors in the atherosclerosis scenario

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Abstract

Atherosclerosis is considered as the most common cardiovascular disease and a leading cause of global mortality, which develops through consecutive steps. Various cellular and molecular biomarkers such as microRNAs are identified to be involved in atherosclerosis progression. MicroRNAs are a group of endogenous, short, non-coding RNAs, which are able to bind to specific sequences on target messenger RNAs and thereby modulate gene expression post-transcriptionally. MicroRNAs are key players in wide range of biological processes; thus, their expression level is regulated in pathophysiological conditions. Ample evidences including in vitro and in vivo studies approved a critical role of microRNAs in epigenetic and the sequential processes of atherosclerosis from risk factors to plaque formation, progression, and rupture. Based on these findings, miRNAs seems to be promising candidates for therapeutic approach. This review summarizes the role of miRNAs in atherosclerosis development, epigenetic, and therapy. Moreover, the application of exosomes in miRNA delivery, and/or their prognostic and diagnostic values are also discussed.

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Author notes

  1. Fatemeh Hajibabaie and Shirin Kouhpayeh contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

    Fatemeh Hajibabaie

  2. Applied Physiology Research Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

    Fatemeh Hajibabaie

  3. Department of Immunology, Erythron Genetics and Pathobiology Laboratory, Isfahan, Iran

    Shirin Kouhpayeh

  4. Isfahan Pharmaceutical Science Research Center, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

    Mina Mirian

  5. Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

    Ilnaz Rahimmanesh & Hossein Khanahmad

  6. Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

    Maryam Boshtam, Ladan Sadeghian & Laleh Shariati

  7. Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Azam Gheibi

  8. Department of Biomaterials, Nanotechnology and Tissue Engineering, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

    Laleh Shariati

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  1. Fatemeh Hajibabaie
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Contributions

The authors, Fatemeh HajiBabaie Alavije, Shirin Kouhpayeh, Ilnaz Rahimmanesh and Laleh Shariati contributed in data colection, Mina Mirian, Maryam Boshtam, Hossein Khanahmad, Azam Gheibi and Ladan Sadeghian contributed in interpretation of data.

The authors, Fatemeh Hajibabaie Alavije, Shirin Kouhpayeh and Laleh Shariati contributed in drafting the paper.

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Correspondence to Laleh Shariati.

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Key points

This article review:

The supporting evidences of miRNAs to atherosclerosis process

The role of miRNAs in clinical relevance of atherosclerosis

The application of miRNAs in diagnosis

The application of miRNAs as therapeutic agents.

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Hajibabaie, F., Kouhpayeh, S., Mirian, M. et al. MicroRNAs as the actors in the atherosclerosis scenario. J Physiol Biochem 76, 1–12 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13105-019-00710-7

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