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Updated: Jun 13, 2026
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In Vivo Nanovector Delivery of a Heart-specific MicroRNA-sponge
Published on: June 15, 2018
Expression and function of microRNAs in heart disease
Sadakatsu Ikeda1, William T Pu
1Department of Cardiology, Children's Hospital Boston, Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Current Drug Targets
|April 27, 2010
Summary
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate gene expression and are crucial for heart biology. Altered miRNA expression in heart disease suggests their potential as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Cardiovascular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key regulators of gene expression.
- They influence diverse cardiac processes, including development, survival, and hypertrophy.
- Dysregulated miRNA expression is observed in various heart conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the role of miRNAs in heart disease.
- To discuss miRNA expression patterns in cardiac pathologies.
- To explore the diagnostic and prognostic potential of miRNA signatures.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of miRNA expression and function in heart disease.
- Analysis of studies on miRNA involvement in cardiac pathogenesis.
- Examination of miRNA profiling data in experimental and human heart disease.
Main Results:
- miRNA expression profiles are altered in heart disease.
- miRNAs play significant roles in the mechanisms underlying heart disease.
- miRNA signatures show promise as biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis.
Conclusions:
- MicroRNAs are integral to cardiac biology and disease.
- Understanding miRNA function is critical for developing new therapeutic strategies.
- miRNA-based biomarkers could improve heart disease management.
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01:22MicroRNAs
MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns (non-coding regions of a gene) or intergenic regions (stretches of DNA present between genes). Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself, forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After the pre-miRNA...
01:22MicroRNAs
MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns—non-coding regions of a gene—or intergenic regions—stretches of DNA present between genes. Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After the pre-miRNA ends...
01:22MicroRNAs
MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns—non-coding regions of a gene—or intergenic regions—stretches of DNA present between genes. Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After the pre-miRNA ends...