Harnessing the Therapeutic Potential of MicroRNAs for Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular diseases are one of the most common causes of death in humans and are responsible for billions of dollars in health care expenditures. As the molecular basis of cardiac diseases continues to be explored, there remains the hope for identification of more effective therapeutics. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are recognized as important regulators of numerous biological pathways and stress responses, including those found in cardiovascular diseases. MicroRNA signatures of cardiovascular diseases can provide targets for miRNA adjustment and offer the possibility of changing gene and protein expression to treat certain pathologies. These adjustments can be conferred using advances in oligonucleotide delivery methods, which can target single miRNAs, families of miRNAs, and certain tissue types. In this review, we will discuss the use of miRNAs in vivo and recent advances in their use for cardiovascular disease in mammalian models.