Long non-coding RNAs as modulators of metabolic reprogramming for endogenous heart regeneration: Mechanisms and...

Myocardial infarction (MI) is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, with its high incidence and mortality posing a significant threat to human health. Despite some progress in the treatment of myocardial infarction, mortality rates remain alarmingly high. Adult mammals have limited myocardial regenerative capacity, and extensive cell death caused by myocardial ischemia severely impairs cardiac function, leading to heart failure or death. In contrast, neonatal myocardium possesses a robust regenerative ability, which gradually diminishes after birth. The loss of cardiomyocyte regenerative capacity is often accompanied by a shift in energy metabolism-from reliance on glucose (glycolysis) to fatty acid oxidation. This metabolic reprogramming significantly impacts CM proliferation. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) orchestrate cardiac regeneration through epigenetic control (e.g., Bvht/PRC2-mediated silencing), metabolic reprogramming (e.g., GATA6-AS1 suppression of FAO), and miRNA sponging (e.g., CAREL sequestration of miR-296). However, our understanding of the metabolic determinants and pathways that promote myocardial regeneration after myocardial infarction is still insufficient. This review investigates the interplay between lncRNAs and metabolic reprogramming in cardiovascular function, aiming to identify novel therapeutic targets and strategies to enhance myocardial regeneration post-MI.