MicroRNAs as biomarkers for myocardial infarction

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Updated: May 24, 2026

Digital PCR for Quantifying Circulating MicroRNAs in Acute Myocardial Infarction and Cardiovascular Disease
04:41

Digital PCR for Quantifying Circulating MicroRNAs in Acute Myocardial Infarction and Cardiovascular Disease

Published on: July 3, 2018

Kanita Salic1, Leon J De Windt

  • 1Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, The Netherlands.

Current Atherosclerosis Reports
|March 7, 2012
PubMed

Insights

MicroRNAs (miRs) circulating in blood show potential as diagnostic biomarkers for myocardial infarction (MI). This review highlights miRs that meet criteria for reliable MI detection, offering new diagnostic possibilities.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cardiology
  • Biomarker Discovery

Background:

  • MicroRNAs (miRs) are short non-coding RNAs regulating gene expression post-transcriptionally.
  • Dysregulated miRs are linked to cardiovascular diseases, including myocardial infarction (MI).
  • Circulating miRs are stable and detectable in peripheral blood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent findings on miRs as potential biomarkers for MI.
  • To identify miRs that satisfy criteria for diagnostic candidacy in MI.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies investigating miRs in myocardial infarction.
  • Analysis of miR expression profiles and their correlation with MI.
  • Evaluation of stability and detectability of circulating miRs.

Main Results:

  • Recent studies identified specific miRs in circulation associated with MI.
  • These circulating miRs demonstrate stability, making them suitable for diagnostic use.
  • Several miRs show promise as candidate biomarkers for MI detection.

Conclusions:

  • Circulating miRs represent a novel class of biomarkers for myocardial infarction.
  • Further research is warranted to validate these miRs for clinical diagnostic applications.
  • MiR-based diagnostics could improve the early detection and management of MI.

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