title: RNAs that make a heart beat.
abstract: An increase in stress-associated microRNAs has been observed in the heart after an induced myocardial infarction. Liu and colleagues now demonstrate that one of these stress-associated microRNAs,miR-223-3p, can regulate a component of the voltage-gated channel that mediates rapid outward efflux of potassium during an action potential. Aberrations in the potassium current have been associated with ventricular arrhythmia and heart disease. Strikingly, introducing a small RNA antagonist directed againstmiR-223-3pinto rat hearts, while also inducing a myocardial infarction, resulted in a reduction in arrhythmias. We place these studies in the larger context of the field and discuss the potential of anti-miR-223-3pmolecules as new therapeutics for myocardial infarction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA;; Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Mithun
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mitra
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA;; Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Hilary A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Coller
keywords: Action potential; arrhythmia; microRNA; myocardial infarction; potassium channel; voltage-gated channel