Probing cardiac regeneration: immune modulation by microRNAs

Abstract

Abstract | In this review we describe the basic biology of the heart, the involvement of the immune system after myocardial infarction, and how microRNAs can influence the inflammatory response to enhance cardiac regeneration. Cardiomyocytes are the key players of cardiac contraction and their proliferation is abundant during embryonic development. However, shortly after birth this regenerative potential occurs only at very low levels. Upon myocardial infarction (MI) and subsequent reperfusion, a considerable injury occurs to the heart and millions of viable cardiomyocytes are lost. Therefore, cardiac function is diminished and renewal of cardiomyocytes is strongly required. The inflammatory response plays a key role in protection and injury of cardiac cells post MI. Different important pathways in cardiac inflammation are discussed to investigate the possibility of reducing cardiac damage and enhancing cardiac repair and regeneration. MicroRNAs are important regulators of mRNA abundance, involving a broad range of biological processes, including inflammation. Therefore, the role of microRNAs involving the cardiac inflammatory response post MI is reviewed. MicroRNAs appear to be critically involved in cardiac regeneration by modulation of the immune system and therefore deserve extensive attention in future research, with the ultimate goal to resolve a major health problem of cardiovascular disease.