title: MicroRNAs and myocardial infarction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We will review the role of microRNAs (miRNAs), small noncoding RNAs with regulatory function, in myocardial infarction (MI). Specifically, we will examine the effect of MI on miRNAs' expression in the heart, the effect of MI on circulating miRNAs, which miRNAs' overexpression or downmodulation appears to have a therapeutic role in MI and which cardiac miRNAs are modulated by drugs/experimental molecules/cell transplantation strategies which have an established or potential therapeutic role in MI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A rapidly increasing number of studies are showing that cardiac and circulating miRNAs are markedly altered in MI. These novel findings shed new light on the mechanisms that lead to MI complications, post-MI ventricular remodeling and cardiac repair. Further, recent studies show that circulating miRNAs may represent novel and sensitive biomarkers of MI and, possibly, also an intercellular signaling mechanism. Overexpression and downregulation of specific miRNAs are being evaluated as a novel approach to the treatment of MI. Finally, it appears that some established and potential MI therapies (approved drugs/experimental molecules/cell therapy interventions) may act, at least in part, via modulation of specific miRNAs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although miRNAs' role in MI is still largely uncharacterized, recent studies suggest that miRNAs may represent novel therapeutic targets and MI biomarkers.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio di Biologia Vascolare e Medicina Rigenerativa, Centro Cardiologico Monzino - IRCCS, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Yuri
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: D'Alessandra
authors.forename: Giulio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pompilio
authors.forename: Maurizio C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Capogrossi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D064987:Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015870:Gene Expression; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005819:Genetic Markers / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics*; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000235:genetics* / Q000628:therapy; D015428:Myocardial Reperfusion Injury; D009206:Myocardium
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers; D035683:MicroRNAs