Emerging role of MicroRNAs in cardiovascular biology

The heart is among the most conserved organs of the body and is susceptible to defects more than any other organ. Heart malformations, in fact, occur in roughly 1% of newborns. Moreover, cardiovascular disease arising during adult life is among the main causes of morbidity and mortality in developed countries. It is not surprising, therefore, that much effort is being channeled into understanding the development, physiology, and pathology of the cardiovascular system. MicroRNAs, a newly discovered class of small ribonucleotide-based regulators of gene expression, are being implicated in an increasing number of biological processes, and the study of their role in cardiovascular biology is just beginning. Here, we briefly overview microRNAs in general and report on the recent findings regarding their importance for the heart and vasculature, in particular. The new insights that are being gained will permit not only a greater understanding of cardiovascular pathologies but also, hopefully, the development of novel therapeutic strategies.