Non-coding RNA in control of gene regulatory programs in cardiac development and disease. (December 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Philippen, Leonne E.; Dirkx, Ellen; da Costa-Martins, Paula A.; De Windt, Leon J.
• Is Part Of: Journal of molecular and cellular cardiology. Volume 89:Part A(2015)
• Page Start: 51
• Page End: 58
• Publication Date: 2015-12
• Subjects: Non-coding RNA -- MicroRNA -- lncRNA -- Gene expression; Cardiology -- Periodicals; Heart Diseases -- Periodicals; Molecular Biology -- Periodicals; Cardiologie -- Périodiques; Cardiology; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 616.12
• DOI: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2015.03.014
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-2828

Abstract

Abstract: Organogenesis of the vertebrate heart is a highly specialized process involving progressive specification and differentiation of distinct embryonic cardiac progenitor cell populations driven by specialized gene programming events. Likewise, the onset of pathologies in the adult heart, including cardiac hypertrophy, involves the reactivation of embryonic gene programs. In both cases, these intricate genomic events are temporally and spatially regulated by complex signaling networks and gene regulatory networks. Apart from well-established transcriptional mechanisms, increasing evidence indicates that gene programming in both the developing and the diseased myocardium are under epigenetic control by non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs). MicroRNAs regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level, and numerous studies have now established critical roles for this species of tiny RNAs in a broad range of aspects from cardiogenesis towards adult heart failure. Recent reports now also implicate the larger family of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in these processes as well. Here we discuss the involvement of these two ncRNA classes in proper cardiac development and hypertrophic disease processes of the adult myocardium. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Non-coding RNAs. Highlights: Gene programming in both the developing and the diseased myocardium show similarities. Cardiac gene programming is under epigenetic control by classes of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs). We review the involvement of microRNAs specifically involved in cardiac gene expression regulation. We list the recent implication of long ncRNAs in epigenetic gene regulation in proper cardiogenesis and heart disease.