Role of non-coding RNA in cardiac remodeling

Studies conducted in the past decade have identified that a significant portion of the genome is “non-coded” instead accounts for non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) including microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), circular RNAs (circRNAs), piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs), guide RNAs (gRNAs), small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs) and small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs). Evidences further indicate that these groups of ncRNAs contribute significantly to cardiac remodeling process including hypertrophy and fibrosis. In addition, several ncRNAs have been identified as biomarkers in cardiac disease. Thereby, ncRNAs are promising therapeutic targets for several cardiac pathologies/diseases. This review aims to discuss and summarize the molecular mechanisms and function of several classes of ncRNAs related to cardiac diseases.