Research progress of miR-223 in cardiovascular diseases

Cardiovascular disease is one of the most important diseases that endanger people’s life, and coronary heart disease is the most prevalent worldwide. MicroRNAs are a class of small, noncoding RNAs regulating the expression and functions of target genes posttranscriptionally and participating in the pathophysiological process of various diseases. As a myeloid specific miRNA, MicroRNA-223 is abundant in platelets, plasma and endothelial cells, and is involved in the development of many cardiovascular diseases. The present investigation on miR-223 functions in cardiovascular diseases contributes to the understanding of the pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of cardiovascular diseases.