MicroRNA-21 regulates myocardial injury following ischemia-reperfusion

Abstract

Background: Myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury contributes significantly to cardiac tissue damage following restoration of blood flow. MicroRNAs have emerged as important regulators of cardiac cellular responses.Methods: Myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury was experimentally induced, followed by assessment of microRNA-21 expression, inflammatory mediators, apoptotic markers, and myocardial tissue damage.Results: Altered microRNA-21 expression was associated with changes in inflammatory and apoptotic signaling and was accompanied by differences in myocardial injury markers.Conclusion: MicroRNA-21 may contribute to the molecular response to myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury and could represent a potential therapeutic target.