The miR-17-92 cluster in cardiac health and disease.

ABSTRACT

MicroRNAs (miRs) are small noncoding RNAs that play important roles in both physiological and pathological processes through post-transcriptional regulation. The miR-17-92 cluster includes six individual members miR-17, miR-18a, miR-19a, miR-19b-1, miR-20a, and miR-92a-1. The miR-17-92 cluster has been extensively studied and reported to broadly function in cancer biology, immunology, neurology, pulmonology, and cardiology. This review focuses on its roles in heart development and cardiac diseases. We briefly introduce the nature of the miR-17-92 cluster and its crucial roles in both normal development and the pathogenesis of various diseases. We summarize the recent progress in understanding the versatile roles of miR-17-92 during cardiac development, regeneration, and aging. Additionally, we highlight the indispensable roles of the miR-17-92 cluster in pathogenesis and therapeutic potential in cardiac birth defects and adult cardiac diseases.