Research advances in role of miR-214 in cardiovascular diseases

Cardiovascular disease, as one of the world's leading causes of death, is a major threat to human health globally. A growing number of studies have focused on seeking a novel and effective biomarker to be used in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Non-coding microRNAs (miRNAs), belonging to an important class of endogenous non-coding small RNAs, can be one of the candidates. In recent years, the physiological and pathological roles of microRNAs in the cardiovascular system have been thoroughly studied. They are shown to be involved in most physiological processes of the heart, as well as most pathological progresses of cardiovascular diseases. The findings on the behavior of miR-214 in hypertrophy, ischemic cardiomyopathy and heart failure are summarized in this review.