Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 28, 2026

Digital PCR for Quantifying Circulating MicroRNAs in Acute Myocardial Infarction and Cardiovascular Disease
Published on: July 3, 2018
Circulating microRNAs: biomarkers or mediators of cardiovascular diseases?
Stephan Fichtlscherer1, Andreas M Zeiher, Stefanie Dimmeler
1Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine III, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany.
Abstract:
MicroRNAs (miRs) are small, noncoding RNAs that posttranscriptionally control gene expression by inhibiting protein translation or inducing target mRNA destabilization. Besides their intracellular function, recent studies demonstrate that miRs can be exported or released by cells and circulate with the blood in a remarkably stable form. The discovery of circulating miRs opens up intriguing possibilities to use the circulating miR patterns as biomarker for cardiovascular diseases. Cardiac injury as it occurs after acute myocardial infarction increases the circulating levels of several myocardial-derived miRs (eg, miR-1, miR-133, miR-499, miR-208), whereas patients with coronary artery disease or diabetes showed reduced levels of endothelial-enriched miRs, such as miR-126. This review article summarizes the current clinical and experimental studies addressing the role of circulating miRs as a diagnostic or prognostic biomarker in cardiovascular disease. In addition, the mechanisms by which miRs are released and their putative function as long-distance communicators are discussed.
Related Concept Videos
Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System II: CRP, Hcy, and Cardiac Natriuretic Peptide Markers
These markers indicate stress or strain on the heart muscle:
Natriuretic Peptides (BNP)
Cardiac myocytes produce these hormones in response to ventricular stretching...
MicroRNAs
MicroRNAs
Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System I: Cardiac Biomarkers
The essential diagnostic tools for detecting myocardial necrosis and monitoring individuals suspected of having acute coronary syndrome (ACS) include:
Troponins
Troponins, particularly cardiac troponins I and T, are the most precise and sensitive markers of myocardial injury. They are detectable within 4-6 hours of myocardial injury and remain...
