MicroRNA in cardio-metabolic disorders

Clin Chim Acta. 2021 Jul:518:134-141. doi: 10.1016/j.cca.2021.03.024. Epub 2021 Apr 3.

Abstract

Hyperlipidemia is correlated with several health problems that contain the combination of hypertension, obesity, and diabetes mellitus, which are grouped as metabolic syndrome. Though the lipid-lowering agents, such as statins, which aims to reduce serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) has been considered as one of the most effective therapeutics in treating hyperlipidemia and coronary artery diseases, the persistent high risk of atherosclerosis after intensive lipid-lowering therapy could not be simply explained by hyperlipidemia. Therefore, it is necessary to identify novel factors to manage treatment and to predict risk of cardio-metabolic events. Endeavor over the past several decades has demonstrated the important functions of microRNAs in modulating macrophage activation, lipid metabolism, and hyperlipidemia. In the present review, we summarized the recent findings which highlighted the contributions of microRNAs in regulating serum lipid metabolism. Furthermore, we also provided the potential mechanisms whereby microRNAs controlled lipid metabolism and the risk of cardio-metabolic disorders, which could help us to identify microRNAs as a promising therapeutic target for hyperlipidemia and its related cardiovascular diseases.

Keywords: Biomarker; Cardiovascular disease; Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; Metabolic syndrome; MicroRNA.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Cholesterol, LDL
  • Humans
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors*
  • Hyperlipidemias* / drug therapy
  • Hyperlipidemias* / genetics
  • Hypolipidemic Agents / therapeutic use
  • MicroRNAs* / genetics
  • Risk Factors

Substances

  • Cholesterol, LDL
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors
  • Hypolipidemic Agents
  • MicroRNAs