Role, Function and Therapeutic Potential of microRNAs in Vascular Aging

Due to increased life expectancy in a growing world population, the impact of ageing on the pathophysiology of cardiovascular diseases will increase. Therefore, a better understanding of age-related biological changes is important and necessary to combat cardiovascular diseases in the future. microRNAs (miRs) are small non coding RNAs emerging as key regulator in several vascular pathologies such as atherosclerosis or hypertension, which show a clear association with increasing age. This review discusses the involvement of miRs in several age- associated pathologies such as oxidative stress, vascular inflammation, vascular tension, endothelial cell senescence and impaired angiogenesis.