RNA Therapeutics in Cardiovascular Disease

Noncoding RNAs have been shown to exert important physiological and pathophysiological functions. Various studies suggest that modulating noncoding RNAs may provide a therapeutic option. Noncoding RNAs comprise small RNAs, mainly microRNAs, and long noncoding RNAs. MicroRNAs postranscriptionally regulate gene expression pattern by binding to the 3'untranslated region of a given target mRNA, thereby blocking protein translation or inducing its degradation. Long noncoding RNAs on the contrary have more diverse functions acting as epigenetic regulators, molecular scaffolds, or decoys. In this article, we summarize examples of microRNAs and long noncoding RNAs, which might be promising novel targets for treatment of cardiovascular diseases, such as heart failure, acute myocardial infarction, fibrosis, as well as atherosclerosis. Furthermore, we give insights into the available tools to inhibit or overexpress noncoding RNAs and discuss the challenges for translation. Strategies for improving RNA therapeutics and reducing toxicity, for example, by augmenting tissue specificity or cellular uptake will be discussed.