Non-coding RNAs: key players in cardiac disease

Molecular mechanisms underlying heart failure (HF) are only partly understood. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have been reported to control function and signalling routes in the myocardium. As ncRNAs such as microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) or circular RNAs (circRNAs) can be selectively targeted via pharmacological approaches, this opens new avenues for diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. Here, we review the main ncRNA classes and how they influence cardiac biology. In addition we provide insight into the role of ncRNAs in chemotherapy-induced cardiac dysfunction. To provide a better understanding of ncRNAs in cardiovascular biology we present an outlook on specialized functions such as chromatin remodelling, biomarker potential and the recently discovered ncRNA-derived micropeptides.