RNA epigenetics and cardiovascular diseases

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death in the Western world. Despite advances in the prevention and in the management of CVD, the role of RNA epigenetics in the cardiovascular system has been until recently unexplored. The rapidly expanding research field of RNA modifications has introduced a novel layer of gene regulation in mammalian cells. RNA modifications may control all aspects of RNA metabolism, and their study reveals previously unrecognized regulatory pathways that may determine gene expression at a post-transcriptional level. Understanding the role of RNA modifications in CVD may lead towards a better understanding of disease mechanisms and the development of novel biomarkers or therapeutic strategies. In this review, we highlight the most recent and major reports in the field of RNA methylation and adenosine to inosine RNA editing related to the cardiovascular field and we discuss how this breakthrough will advance the field of precision medicine.