Transfer RNA-derived small RNAs as novel players and biomarkers in cardiovascular disease

An emerging field in cardiovascular research is the translational investigation of transfer RNA-derived small RNAs (tsRNAs). TsRNAs, a class of small non-coding RNA molecules, have been shown to modulate cellular functions by regulating gene expression post-transcriptionally. They are implicated in diverse pathological conditions, including cancer, cardiovascular disease (CVD), infectious disease, diabetes, neurological disease, and metabolic disorder. Accumulating evidence suggests tsRNAs as important players and biomarkers in CVD. Dysregulated tsRNAs are identified in atherosclerosis, heart failure, hypertension and other types of CVD. Bioinformatics and in vitro experimental analyses reveal that tsRNAs may participate in the regulation of endothelial and inflammatory cell interactions, endothelial cell and vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration, and cardiac metabolism, mitophagy and remodeling, contributing to the pathogenesis of CVD. In addition, altered tsRNAs possess great diagnostic and prognostic potential in CVD. Nevertheless, there are currently no in vivo mechanistic studies using animal models, and the small sizes of reported clinical studies that examined tsRNAs limit their diagnostic and prognostic value. Although of promise, further research is needed to address the utility of tsRNAs in cardiovascular care.