MicroRNAs in arterial hypertension.

Arterial hypertension is an epidemic currently affecting almost a billion people worldwide. The consequences from high blood pressure vary, from peripheral arterial disease and chronic kidney failure to acute myocardial infarction and stroke. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNA molecules comprised of 22-26 nucleotides and provide posttranscriptional protein expression regulation. The many biological processes in which they are implicated, such as cell proliferation, apoptosis, metabolism, cell differentiation and morphogenesis confirms the functional significance of miRNAs. It has been found that miRNAs are expressed in cardiovascular disorders and seem to be important players in the pathogenesis of arterial hypertension. The elucidation of which miRNAs are key players and at what level is of high value since it is necessary in order to better understand the mechanisms underlying hypertension, thus leading to better diagnostic modalities and therapeutic regimes.