Remodeling of non-coding RNA regulatory networks: Decoding the pathological mechanisms and new therapeutic paradigms of cardiovascular diseases.

This comprehensive review examined how tiny molecules called non-coding RNAs regulate heart and blood vessel diseases, from birth defects to heart failure and irregular heartbeats. Researchers analyzed existing studies on different types of these molecules (microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs, circular RNAs, and small nucleolar RNAs) and how they control disease processes through inflammation, cell changes, and genetic modifications. They found these molecules show great promise as early warning signs for heart disease, potentially detectable through simple blood tests using exosomes (tiny particles released by cells). The review also explored emerging treatment approaches including specially designed drug delivery systems and gene-editing technologies that could target these molecules to treat cardiovascular conditions. However, significant challenges remain before these therapies can be used in real patients, including difficulties in delivering treatments to the right tissues and understanding how these molecules work in complex body environments. For patients exploring complementary approaches to cardiovascular health, this research highlights the importance of understanding disease at the molecular level. While acupuncture operates through different mechanisms—regulating the nervous system, reducing inflammation, and improving blood flow—both approaches recognize that heart disease involves complex, interconnected biological networks rather than single causes. If you're considering acupuncture for cardiovascular health concerns, consult with a licensed acupuncturist who is board-certified and can coordinate care with your cardiologist.

This systematic review synthesizes current evidence on non-coding RNA (ncRNA) regulatory networks across cardiovascular disease phenotypes, including congenital heart disease, atherosclerosis, cardiomyopathies, heart failure, and arrhythmias. The authors examined expression profiles and mechanisms of miRNAs, lncRNAs, circRNAs, and snoRNAs, highlighting their roles in epigenetic regulation, competing endogenous RNA networks, inflammation, and cell fate determination. No original sample sizes or effect sizes are reported; this is a literature review. Key therapeutic innovations discussed include locked nucleic acid oligonucleotides, AAV9-based delivery systems, and engineered exosomes for tissue-specific targeting. Diagnostic applications encompass exosomal liquid biopsy and biomarker development. Three unifying principles are proposed: ceRNA competition dynamics, spatiotemporal gradients in exosome transport, and stoichiometric constraints in miRNA processing. Clinical translation remains limited by delivery efficiency challenges, functional redundancy, and microenvironmental dependence. This framework provides mechanistic context for understanding cardiovascular pathophysiology at the molecular level.