MicroRNAs (
miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that participate in heart development and
pathological processes mainly by silencing gene expression. Overwhelming evidence has suggested that
miRNAs were involved in various cardiovascular
pathological processes, including arrhythmias,
ischemia-reperfusion injuries, dysregulation of angiogenesis, mitochondrial abnormalities,
fibrosis, and maladaptive remodeling. Various
miRNAs could regulate myocardial contractility, vascular proliferation, and mitochondrial function. Meanwhile, it was reported that
miRNAs could manipulate nutrition metabolism, especially
glucose and lipid metabolism, by regulating
insulin signaling pathways, energy substrate transport/metabolism. Recently, increasing studies suggested that the abnormal
glucose and lipid metabolism were closely associated with a broad spectrum of
cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Therefore, maintaining
glucose and lipid metabolism homeostasis in the heart might be beneficial to CVD patients. In this review, we summarized the present knowledge of the functions of
miRNAs in regulating cardiac
glucose and lipid metabolism, as well as highlighted the
miRNA-based
therapies targeting cardiac
glucose and lipid metabolism.