Translational Potential of Non-coding RNAs for Cardiovascular Disease

Heart failure is the end result of a variety of cardiovascular disease states. Heart failure remains a challenge to treat, and the incidence continues to rise with an aging population, and increasing rates of diabetes and obesity. Non-coding RNAs, once considered as "junk DNA", have emerged as powerful transcriptional regulators and potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of heart failure. Different classes of non-coding RNAs exist, including small non-coding RNAs, referred to as microRNAs, and long non-coding RNAs. Both microRNAs and long non-coding RNAs play a role in cardiac development as well as in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease, prompting many studies to investigate their role as potential therapeutic targets. Most studies manipulate miRNAs and lncRNAs of interest via antisense oligonucleotides; however, several challenges remain limiting their potential clinical value. As such, viral and non-viral delivery methods are being developed to achieve targeted delivery in vivo.