Endothelial microRNAs and long noncoding RNAs in cardiovascular ageing.

Atherosclerosis and numerous other cardiovascular diseases develop in an age-dependent manner. The endothelial cells that line the vessel walls play an important role in the development of atherosclerosis. Non-coding RNA like microRNAs and long non-coding RNAs are known to play an important role in endothelial function and are implicated in the disease progression. Here, we summarize several microRNAs and long non-coding RNAs that are known to have an altered expression with endothelial aging and discuss their role in endothelial cell function and senescence. These processes contribute to aging-induced atherosclerosis development and by targeting the non-coding RNAs controlling endothelial cell function and senescence, atherosclerosis can potentially be attenuated.