Rupture of Vulnerable Atherosclerotic Plaques: MicroRNAs Conducting the Orchestra?

Haver, Vincent G.; Slart, Riemer H.J.A.; Zeebregts, Clark J.; Peppelenbosch, Maikel P.; Tio, René A.

doi:10.1016/j.tcm.2010.04.002

« PreviousTrends in Cardiovascular Medicine
Volume 20, Issue 2 , Pages 65-71, February 2010

Rupture of Vulnerable Atherosclerotic Plaques: MicroRNAs Conducting the Orchestra?

Vincent G. Haver
- Cardiovascular Imaging Group Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
- Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
Riemer H.J.A. Slart
- Cardiovascular Imaging Group Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
Clark J. Zeebregts
- Cardiovascular Imaging Group Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
- Department of Surgery division of Vascular Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
Maikel P. Peppelenbosch
- Cardiovascular Imaging Group Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
- Department of Gastro-enterology and Hepatology, Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands
René A. Tio
- Cardiovascular Imaging Group Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
- Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
- Address correspondence to: René A. Tio, Department of Cardiology, Thorax Center, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713GZ Groningen, The Netherlands. Tel.: (+31) 503612355; fax: (+31) 503611347

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are tiny, endogenous nucleotides that bind to mRNA and induce translation repression within metazoan cells. Since their discovery in 1993 in Caenorhabditis elegans and the demonstration of miRNAs in Homo sapiens in 2000, research has been fruitful in deciphering the role of these nucleotides in development, tissue homeostasis, and pathologic processes. In humans, around 700 human miRNA nucleotides have been verified, which interfere with 30% of all genes. Recently, the role of miRNA in cardiovascular research gained attention and the involvement of miRNAs in several cardiovascular diseases has been identified. In this review, we focus on the role of miRNAs in atherosclerosis and in particular on the potential role of miRNAs in the development of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques. The role of miRNA in the main characteristics of these plaques, inflammation, angiogenesis, and apoptosis will be discussed. Finally, the future perspectives and miRNA-based diagnostic and therapeutic potentials will be highlighted.

Keywords: miRNA, Atherosclerosis, Vulnerable plaque, Rupture