Recent research progress of microRNAs in hypertension pathogenesis, with a focus on the roles of miRNAs in pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Hypertension is the most widespread disease in the world affecting humans and imparts a significant cardiovascular and renal risk to patients, and extensive research over the past few decades has enhanced our understanding of the underlying pathogenesis of hypertension. A growing number of studies have shown that miRNAs are involved in the pathological mechanisms of hypertension. This review summarizes the current understanding of miRNA-mediated modulation of gene expression in the hypertension pathogenesis in the past few years. A systematic review of PUBMED, EMBASE and SCOPUS was conducted for studies published in the past few years. The review covers three topics: miRNAs in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), miRNAs and systemic arterial hypertension (SAH), miRNAs and application in hypertension. This review summarizes the current understanding of miRNA-mediated modulation in the hypertension pathogenesis in the past few years, with especially emphasis on miRNAs in PAH. We also discussed the roles of miRNAs in SAH, and the therapeutic applications of these miRNAs will be detailed discussed in this review. Evidence suggests that miRNAs are involved in the pathological mechanisms of hypertension, and the roles of miRNAs in the hypertension pathogenesis are confirmed. We need to further investigate the regulated roles of miRNAs in the pathogenesis of hypertension and the application of miRNAs in the diagnosis and treatment of this disease in the future.