MicroRNAs in Atherosclerosis: Mechanisms, Biomarkers, and Therapeutic Opportunities

Dear Colleagues,

Background

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory and lipid-driven vascular disorder that underlies most cases of coronary artery disease, stroke, and peripheral arterial disease. Despite major advances in lipid-lowering and anti-inflammatory therapies, cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Increasing evidence highlights the importance of epigenetic and post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms in shaping vascular pathophysiology.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs)—small, non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level—have emerged as pivotal modulators of vascular biology. MiRNAs influence endothelial function, vascular smooth muscle cell phenotypic switching, macrophage polarization, lipid metabolism, and plaque stability. Dysregulated miRNA networks contribute to endothelial dysfunction, chronic inflammation, foam cell formation, extracellular matrix remodeling, and thrombosis—hallmark processes in atherogenesis and plaque progression. Furthermore, circulating miRNAs are increasingly recognized as minimally invasive biomarkers with potential utility in disease diagnosis, risk stratification, and therapeutic monitoring.

Aims and Scope

This Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of the mechanistic, translational roles of miRNAs in atherosclerosis. We invite original research articles, reviews, and communications that elucidate how miRNAs regulate molecular pathways underlying vascular dysfunction and cardiometabolic risk.

Particular emphasis will be placed on integrative multi-omics approaches, systems biology strategies, and network analyses that define miRNA–gene interactions in vascular tissues and circulating compartments, as well as targeted experimental approaches that clarify the mechanistic roles of specific miRNAs in atherogenesis. Studies utilizing human cohorts, relevant animal models, and advanced cellular systems are strongly encouraged.

We also welcome contributions addressing the development of miRNA-based diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, including antisense oligonucleotides, miRNA mimics, nanoparticle-mediated delivery systems, extracellular vesicle–based platforms, and CRISPR-based gene modulation approaches.

Potential Topics of Interest

• MiRNA regulation of endothelial homeostasis and dysfunction
• MiRNAs in vascular smooth muscle cell phenotypic switching
• Macrophage polarization and inflammatory signaling mediated by miRNAs
• MiRNAs and lipid metabolism in atherogenesis
• Circulating miRNAs as diagnostic or prognostic biomarkers
• Extracellular vesicle-mediated miRNA signaling in vascular disease
• Integrative genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics of miRNA networks
• Sex- and age-specific miRNA signatures in atherosclerosis
• Therapeutic targeting of miRNAs
• Challenges related to miRNA delivery, stability, specificity, and off-target effects

Dr. Genesio Karere
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• microRNAs (miRNAs)
• atherosclerosis and vascular inflammation
• endothelial dysfunction
• circulating biomarkers
• RNA-based therapeutics