MicroRNA-Based Therapeutic Approaches in the Cardiovascular System

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous small ribonucleotides that participate in the orchestration of the genome by regulating target messenger RNA translation. MiRNAs control physiological processes and misexpression of miRNAs is pathogenically involved in many diseases including cardiovascular diseases. Normalization of miRNA expression and thus downstream target networks may have enormous therapeutic chances but also risks. We here highlight and discuss recent advances in the development and use of miRNA therapeutics to target miRNAs in vivo that may translate into novel therapeutic strategies for cardiovascular diseases in the future.