MicroRNA-181 in cardiovascular disease: Emerging biomarkers and therapeutic targets.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death worldwide. MicroRNAs (MiRNAs) have attracted considerable attention for their roles in several cardiovascular disease states, including both the physiological and pathological processes. In this review, we will briefly describe microRNA-181 (miR-181) transcription and regulation and summarize recent findings on the roles of miR-181 family members as biomarkers or therapeutic targets in different cardiovascular-related conditions, including atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, hypertension, and heart failure. Lessons learned from these studies may provide new theoretical foundations for CVD.