MicroRNA Regulation of Atherosclerosis

• Published in: Circulation research Vol. 118; no. 4; pp. 703 - 720
• Main Authors: Feinberg, Mark W., Moore, Kathryn J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Heart Association, Inc 19.02.2016
• Subjects: Animals; Arteries - metabolism; Arteries - pathology; Atherosclerosis - diagnosis; Atherosclerosis - genetics; Atherosclerosis - metabolism; Atherosclerosis - pathology; Atherosclerosis - therapy; Coronary Artery Disease - diagnosis; Coronary Artery Disease - genetics; Coronary Artery Disease - metabolism; Coronary Artery Disease - pathology; Coronary Artery Disease - therapy; Cytokines - genetics; Cytokines - metabolism; Gene Expression Regulation; Genetic Markers; Genetic Testing; Genetic Therapy - methods; Humans; Lipoproteins - genetics; Lipoproteins - metabolism; MicroRNAs - genetics; MicroRNAs - metabolism; MicroRNAs - therapeutic use; Plaque, Atherosclerotic; Predictive Value of Tests; Risk Factors; Severity of Illness Index; Signal Transduction; atherosclerosis; coronary artery disease; microRNAs; vascular cell adhesion molecule; lipoproteins
• ISSN: 0009-7330; 1524-4571
• DOI: 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.115.306300

Atherosclerosis and its attendant clinical complications, such as myocardial infarction, stroke, and peripheral artery disease, are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Western societies. In response to biochemical and biomechanical stimuli, atherosclerotic lesion formation occurs from the participation of a range of cell types, inflammatory mediators, and shear stress. Over the past decade, microRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as evolutionarily conserved, noncoding small RNAs that serve as important regulators and fine-tuners of a range of pathophysiological cellular effects and molecular signaling pathways involved in atherosclerosis. Accumulating studies reveal the importance of miRNAs in regulating key signaling and lipid homeostasis pathways that alter the balance of atherosclerotic plaque progression and regression. In this review, we highlight current paradigms of miRNA-mediated effects in atherosclerosis progression and regression. We provide an update on the potential use of miRNAs diagnostically for detecting increasing severity of coronary disease and clinical events. Finally, we provide a perspective on therapeutic opportunities and challenges for miRNA delivery in the field.