The Cell Type-Specific Functions of miR-21 in Cardiovascular Diseases

Beibei Dai; Feng Wang; Xiang Nie; Hengzhi Du; Yanru Zhao; Zhongwei Yin; Huaping Li; Jiahui Fan; Zheng Wen; Dao Wen Wang; Chen Chen

doi:10.3389/fgene.2020.563166

The Cell Type-Specific Functions of miR-21 in Cardiovascular Diseases

Front Genet. 2020 Nov 20:11:563166. doi: 10.3389/fgene.2020.563166. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Beibei Dai^{1

2}, Feng Wang^{1

2}, Xiang Nie^{1

2}, Hengzhi Du^{1

2}, Yanru Zhao^{1

2}, Zhongwei Yin^{1

2}, Huaping Li^{1

2}, Jiahui Fan^{1

2}, Zheng Wen^{1

2}, Dao Wen Wang^{1

2}, Chen Chen^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
² Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Mechanisms of Cardiological Disorders, Wuhan, China.

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases are one of the prime reasons for disability and death worldwide. Diseases and conditions, such as hypoxia, pressure overload, infection, and hyperglycemia, might initiate cardiac remodeling and dysfunction by inducing hypertrophy or apoptosis in cardiomyocytes and by promoting proliferation in cardiac fibroblasts. In the vascular system, injuries decrease the endothelial nitric oxide levels and affect the phenotype of vascular smooth muscle cells. Understanding the underlying mechanisms will be helpful for the development of a precise therapeutic approach. Various microRNAs are involved in mediating multiple pathological and physiological processes in the heart. A cardiac enriched microRNA, miR-21, which is essential for cardiac homeostasis, has been demonstrated to act as a cell-cell messenger with diverse functions. This review describes the cell type-specific functions of miR-21 in different cardiovascular diseases and its prospects in clinical therapy.

Keywords: cardiomyocytes; cardiovascular diseases; endothelial; fibroblast; miR-21.

Publication types

Review