Review Article
Circulating MicroRNAs in Atherosclerosis, Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets
Wei Zhang* and Lili Chen
Department of Microbiology, Peking University, Beijing, China
Published: 12 August 2015
Abstract
Atherosclerosis, a chronic inflammatory disease of the arterial wall characterized by the accumulation of lipids and the formation of plaques, remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The pathogenesis of this complex disease involves a multitude of cellular and molecular factors that intricately interact to drive its initiation and progression. Among these factors, microRNAs (miRNAs), small endogenous non-coding RNA molecules, have emerged as critical post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression, playing significant roles in various biological processes, including cardiovascular diseases. The involvement of miRNAs in key processes underlying atherosclerosis, such as endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, lipid metabolism and vascular smooth muscle cell behavior, has garnered increasing attention in recent years.
Keywords: Atherosclerosis; Lipid metabolism; Endothelial dysfunction; Gene expression
