Cardinal roles of miRNA in cardiac development and disease.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs that are emerging as pivotal modulators in virtually all aspects of cardiac biology, from cardiac development to cardiomyocyte survival and hypertrophy. The miRNA profiling, following gain- and loss-of-function studies using in vitro and in vivo models, has identified wide-ranging functions for miRNAs in the heart, providing new perspectives on their contributions to cardiac pathogenesis, and revealing potential therapeutic targets and diagnostic biomarkers. This review summarizes current progress in regulation of miRNAs in heart development and disease.