Diagnostic, Prognostic, and Therapeutic Potencies of Circulating miRNAs in Acute Myocardial Infarction

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI), or heart attack, is a major public health problem, responsible for 3 to 4 million deaths each year. Despite great improvements in diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, it remains one of the most lethal types of heart disease. Therefore, the identification of molecular mechanisms involved in AMI pathogenesis might help us to develop new therapeutic and diagnostic approaches. MicroRNAs (21- to 24-nucleotide noncoding RNAs) have been shown to play important roles in AMI pathogenesis by affecting multiple cellular processes, including cardiac cell proliferation, apoptosis, survival, regeneration, and autophagy. Thus, targeting microRNAs might have great clinical significance for the treatment of AMI patients. Moreover, aberrant miRNA expression patterns can serve as an ideal diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for AMI patients. This review aims to give an overview of recent studies that have addressed the therapeutic potency of microRNAs in AMI. We also summarize the potential use of microRNAs as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for AMT.