title: Targeted delivery of miRNA therapeutics for cardiovascular diseases: opportunities and challenges.
abstract: Dysregulation of miRNA expression has been associated with many cardiovascular diseases in animal models, as well as in patients. In the present review, we summarize recent findings on the role of miRNAs in cardiovascular diseases and discuss the opportunities, possibilities and challenges of using miRNAs as future therapeutic targets. Furthermore, we focus on the different approaches that can be used to deliver these newly developed miRNA therapeutics to their sites of action. Since siRNAs are structurally homologous with the miRNA therapeutics, important lessons learned from siRNA delivery strategies are discussed that might be applicable to targeted delivery of miRNA therapeutics, thereby reducing costs and potential side effects, and improving efficacy.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Physiology, VU University Medical Center, Van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081 BT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Rick F J
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Kwekkeboom
authors.affiliation: †Experimental Cardiology Laboratory, Department of Cardiology, Division of Heart and Lungs, University Medical Center Utrecht, P.O. Box 85500, 3508 GA, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Zhiyong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Lei
authors.forename: Pieter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Doevendans
authors.affiliation: *Department of Physiology, VU University Medical Center, Van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081 BT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: René J P
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Musters
authors.forename: Joost P G
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Sluijter
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy / Q000379:methods; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering