Infarction or reperfusion-induced cardiac autophagy: role of microRNAs

Abstract

The process of cardiomyocyte death is triggered by prolonged ischemia in the heart during myocardial infarction (MI). And the role of non-coding RNAs in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular diseases has become increasingly important in recent years. RNA molecules known as microRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs whose expression varies across organs. microRNAs play an important role in processes associated with autophagy, which contribute to the development of heart failure. These processes include mitochondrial integrity and function, antioxidant defense, oxidative stress, iron overload, ferroptosis, and survival pathways. microRNAs may serve as promising biomarkers and useful targets in the treatment of cardiovascular disease. For the development of new targeted drugs, it is vital to uncover how microRNA expression changes and how they regulate autophagy. In order to comprehend the mechanisms of myocardial infarction and ischemic reperfusion injury, it is crucial to understand how these two processes relate to each other. In this review, we will provide a brief introduction to microRNAs, autophagy, and associated medicine to microRNAs.