Non-coding RNA-mediated modulation of ferroptosis in cardiovascular diseases

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major contributor to increasing morbidity and mortality worldwide and seriously threatens human health and life. Cardiomyocyte death is considered the pathological basis of various CVDs, including myocardial infarction, heart failure, and aortic dissection. Multiple mechanisms, such as fer-roptosis, necrosis, and apoptosis, contribute to cardiomyocyte death. Among them, ferroptosis is an iron-dependent form of programmed cell death that plays a vital role in various physiological and pathological processes, from development and aging to immunity and CVD. The dysregulation of ferroptosis has been shown to be closely associated with CVD progression, yet its underlying mechanisms are still not fully understood. In recent years, a growing amount of evidence suggests that non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), particularly microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs, and circular RNAs, are involved in the regulation of ferroptosis, thus affecting CVD progression. Some ncRNAs also exhibit potential value as biomarker and/or therapeutic target for patients with CVD. In this review, we systematically summarize recent findings on the underlying mechanisms of ncRNAs involved in ferroptosis regulation and their role in CVD progression. We also focus on their clinical applications as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers as well as therapeutic targets in CVD treatment.Data availability: No new data were created or analyzed in this study. Data sharing is not applicable to this article.

Automated summary

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major global health threat, and cardiomyocyte death is considered the underlying cause of various CVDs. Ferroptosis, a form of iron-dependent cell death, plays a crucial role in CVD progression, yet its mechanisms are not fully understood. Recent studies have shown that non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), especially microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs, and circular RNAs, are involved in the regulation of ferroptosis and can influence CVD progression. Furthermore, some ncRNAs show potential as diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets in CVD treatment.