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Published on: June 15, 2018
Cytokines and MicroRNA in Coronary Artery Disease
Hamed Mirzaei1, Gordon A Ferns2, Amir Avan3
1School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Insights
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) diagnosis is often late due to a lack of sensitive biomarkers. This review explores cytokines and microRNAs (miRNAs) as potential early diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets for CVD.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Cardiovascular disease (CVD) presents a significant global health challenge, often diagnosed late due to insufficient sensitive and specific biomarkers.
- Cytokines are implicated in CVD pathogenesis through inflammatory and immune mechanisms, modulating pathways like STAT, MAPK, and SMAD.
- MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are noncoding RNAs involved in atherosclerotic CVD progression, potentially affecting cytokine production.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent preclinical and clinical studies on the role of cytokines in CVD.
- To explore novel miRNA-based therapeutic strategies for CVD intervention.
- To identify potential circulating cytokines as promising biomarkers for CVD.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of preclinical and clinical studies.
- Analysis of molecular pathways involving cytokines and miRNAs in CVD.
- Evaluation of miRNA's role in cardiac apoptosis and dysfunction.
Main Results:
- Cytokines are associated with CVD pathogenesis and modulate key cellular pathways.
- MicroRNAs play a role in atherosclerotic CVD progression and can be modulated for therapeutic benefit.
- Specific circulating cytokines show promise as potential CVD biomarkers.
Conclusions:
- Cytokines and miRNAs are critical players in CVD pathogenesis and progression.
- miRNA-based therapies offer potential for treating CVD by inhibiting apoptosis and reducing cardiac dysfunction.
- Circulating cytokines represent promising biomarkers for early CVD detection and management.
Abstract:
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major health problem globally. The high incidence and case fatality of CVD are, to a large extent, a consequence of its late diagnosis and lack of highly sensitive and specific markers. Only a very small number of biomarkers, such as troponin, detect late disease. There is some evidence of an association and dysregulation between specific cytokines in the pathogenesis of CVD. These molecules are involved in inflammatory and immune mechanisms associated with atherogenesis. Several molecular/cellular pathways that include STAT, MAPK, and SMAD are modulated by cytokines. Against this background, microRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of noncoding RNAs with important roles in pathological events, leading to atherosclerotic CVD. It has been shown that the latter could affect cytokine production and contribute to progression of atherosclerotic CVD. Moreover, modulation of miRNAs appears to inhibit cardiomyocyte apoptosis, attenuate infarct size, and reduce cardiac dysfunction. This review highlights several recent preclinical and clinical studies on the role of cytokines in CVD, novel miRNA-based therapeutic approaches for therapeutic intervention, and potential circulating cytokines that have promise as biomarkers in CVD.
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