title: Novel biomarkers in cardiology: MicroRNAs in atrial fibrillation.
abstract: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained chronic cardiac arrhythmia in clinical practice, which increases the risk of stroke and thromboembolism and is an independent predictor of mortality. The underlying mechanisms involved in the development of AF have yet to be fully elucidated. However, once initiated, AF tends to self-perpetuate, owing to structural and electrical remodeling in the atria. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) represent a sizable sub-group of small non-coding RNAs, which degrades or inhibits the translation of their target mRNAs, thus regulating gene expression and playing an important role in a wide range of biologic processes. Clinically, there is increasing evidence of the potential diagnostic role of miRNAs as biomarkers, representing a novel therapeutic target in AF. The aim of this review is to provide an exhaustive overview of the role of miRNAs in AF and to discuss the diagnostic and therapeutic potential of miRNAs in this arrhythmia.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain; Instituto Murciano de Investigaciones Biosanitarias Virgen de la Arrixaca (IMIB-Arrixaca), Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Esteban
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Orenes-Piñero
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain; Instituto Murciano de Investigaciones Biosanitarias Virgen de la Arrixaca (IMIB-Arrixaca), Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Quintana-Giner
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain; Instituto Murciano de Investigaciones Biosanitarias Virgen de la Arrixaca (IMIB-Arrixaca), Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Ana I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Romero-Aniorte
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain; Instituto Murciano de Investigaciones Biosanitarias Virgen de la Arrixaca (IMIB-Arrixaca), Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Mariano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Valdés
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain; Instituto Murciano de Investigaciones Biosanitarias Virgen de la Arrixaca (IMIB-Arrixaca), Murcia, Spain. Electronic address: fcomarino@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Marín
mesh_terms: D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000235:genetics*; D015415:Biomarkers; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D035683:MicroRNAs
keywords: Atrial fibrillation; Biomarcadores; Biomarkers; Cardiac remodeling; Fibrilación auricular; Fibrosis; MicroARNs; MicroRNAs; Remodelado cardíaco