Non-Coding RNAs in Cardiac Aging

Abstract

Aging has a remarkable impact on the function of the heart, and is independently associated with increased risk for cardiovascular diseases. Cardiac aging is an intrinsic physiological process that results in impaired cardiac function, along with lots of cellular and molecular changes. Non-coding RNAs include small transcripts, such as microRNAs and a wide range of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). Emerging evidence has revealed that non-coding RNAs acted as powerful and dynamic modifiers of cardiac aging. This review aims to provide a general overview of non-coding RNAs implicated in cardiac aging, and the underlying mechanisms involved in maintaining homeo-stasis and retarding aging.