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Updated: Jan 19, 2026
Cardiomyopathy II: Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Published on: June 19, 2025
Emerging role of microRNAs in dilated cardiomyopathy: evidence regarding etiology
Maria Calderon-Dominguez1, Thalía Belmonte1, Maribel Quezada-Feijoo2
1Research Unit, Biomedical Research and Innovation Institute of Cádiz (INiBICA), Puerta del Mar University Hospital, University of Cádiz, Cádiz, Spain.
Insights
microRNAs (miRNAs) show promise as noninvasive biomarkers for dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). These small molecules may aid in diagnosing DCM causes and predicting patient outcomes, improving clinical management.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Molecular Biology
- Biomarker Discovery
Background:
- Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a significant heart condition with high morbidity and mortality, necessitating improved diagnostic and prognostic tools.
- Current diagnostic methods for DCM etiology and prognosis stratification have limitations, highlighting the need for novel noninvasive indicators.
- microRNAs (miRNAs), stable molecules found in body fluids, are implicated in cellular processes and disease states, including cardiovascular diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current evidence on intracellular and circulating miRNAs in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).
- To explore the potential of miRNAs as novel noninvasive biomarkers for DCM diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic strategies, focusing on etiology.
- To assess the utility of miRNA signatures in assisting clinical decision-making for DCM patients.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature review summarizing existing research on miRNAs in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).
- Analysis of studies investigating both intracellular and circulating miRNA profiles in DCM patients.
- Focus on the association between miRNA signatures and the etiological classification of DCM.
Main Results:
- Evidence suggests that miRNA signatures can serve as potential noninvasive biomarkers for various cardiovascular diseases, including DCM.
- Specific miRNA profiles are altered in DCM, indicating their role in the disease's pathophysiology.
- Preliminary findings support the use of miRNAs in developing diagnostic and prognostic tools for DCM, with potential therapeutic implications.
Conclusions:
- microRNAs (miRNAs) represent a promising avenue for noninvasive biomarker development in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).
- Further research, including robust population-based studies, is needed to overcome current limitations and validate miRNA utility.
- miRNAs hold potential to significantly aid in the etiological diagnosis, prognosis stratification, and clinical management of DCM.
Abstract:
Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a heart muscle disease characterized by ventricular dilation and systolic dysfunction in the absence of abnormal loading conditions or coronary artery disease. This cardiac disorder is a major health problem due to its high prevalence, morbidity, and mortality. DCM is a complex disease with a common phenotype but heterogeneous pathological mechanisms. Early etiological diagnosis and prognosis stratification is crucial for the clinical management of the patient. Advances in imaging technology and genetic tests have provided useful tools for clinical practice. Nevertheless, the assessment of the disease remains challenging. Novel noninvasive indicators are still needed to assist in decision-making. microRNAs (miRNAs), a group of small noncoding RNAs, have been identified as key mediators of cell biology. They are found in a stable form in body fluids and their concentration is altered in response to stress. Previous research has suggested that the miRNA signature constitutes a novel source of noninvasive biomarkers for a wide array of cardiovascular diseases. Specifically, several studies have reported the potential role of miRNAs as clinical indicators among the etiologies of DCM. However, this field has not been reviewed in detail. Here, we summarize the evidence of intracellular and circulating miRNAs in DCM and their usefulness in the development of novel diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic approaches, with a focus on DCM etiology. Although the findings are still preliminary, due to methodological and technical limitations and the lack of robust population-based studies, miRNAs constitute a promising tool to assist in the clinical management of DCM.
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