Epitranscriptomics of cardiovascular diseases (Review)

Area of Science:

• Molecular Biology
• Genetics
• Cardiology

Background:

• RNA modifications, or epitranscriptomics, dynamically regulate cellular processes, similar to epigenetics but with greater sensitivity.
• Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a leading cause of death, with limited cardiac regenerative capacity.
• The role of epitranscriptomics in CVD pathogenesis and cardiac homeostasis is largely unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent findings on key epitranscriptomic modifications in coding and non-coding RNAs.
• To summarize detection methods for these RNA modifications.
• To explore associations between epitranscriptomic variations and CVD.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of recent studies on epitranscriptomics and CVD.
• Analysis of methodologies for detecting RNA modifications.
• Examination of genetic variations linked to epitranscriptomic changes in cardiovascular contexts.

Main Results:

• Epitranscriptomic modifications impact a wide range of cellular networks and signaling pathways.
• Key epitranscriptomic modifications in coding and non-coding RNAs relevant to cardiac function were identified.
• Associations between genetic variations and epitranscriptomic profiles in CVD were summarized.

Conclusions:

• Cardiac epitranscriptomics holds significant, yet largely untapped, potential for understanding and treating CVD.
• Epitranscriptomic editing offers a dynamic therapeutic avenue for modulating cardiac function in both health and disease.
• Further investigation into cardiac epitranscriptomics is warranted to develop targeted therapeutic strategies.