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Mannarino S, Calcaterra V, Puricelli F, Cecconi G, Chillemi C, Raso I, Cordaro E, Zuccotti G. The Role of miRNA Expression in Congenital Heart Disease: Insights into the Mechanisms and Biomarker Potential. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2025; 12:611. [PMID: 40426790 PMCID: PMC12109583 DOI: 10.3390/children12050611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2025] [Revised: 05/01/2025] [Accepted: 05/02/2025] [Indexed: 05/29/2025]
Abstract
Congenital heart diseases (CHDs) are among the most common congenital malformations. Despite significant advancements in understanding the embryonic development of the heart, the etiology of CHDs remains largely unknown. The complexity of the processes involved in heart formation limits our ability to identify all molecular mechanisms underlying CHDs. Recently, microRNAs (miRNAs) have provided new insights into the molecular mechanisms of CHDs. This narrative review evaluates the evidence linking expression to CHDs and discusses the potential of RNA expression regulation as a promising avenue for therapeutic biomarker development. A search of the literature, focusing on the role of miRNAs in CHDs, was carried out to identify pertinent studies published over the last decade. The literature search was performed utilizing the PubMed and Scopus databases. The selection criteria included peer-reviewed original studies, clinical research, meta-analyses, and review articles written in English. Multiple investigations have highlighted the essential role of miRNAs in cardiac development and function, showing that their distinct expression patterns can broadly and specifically influence cellular signaling pathways involved in heart abnormalities. The regulation of mRNA expression emerges as a key factor in the pathogenesis of CHD, paving the way for the identification of novel molecular biomarkers. Alterations in transcriptional profiles could offer innovative and highly specific tools for risk stratification and the clinical monitoring of patients. In conclusion, although further studies are needed to validate the efficacy and clinical applicability of these biomarkers, the mRNA-based approach stands out as a promising perspective for precision medicine in the CHD context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Savina Mannarino
- Pediatric Cardiology Unit, Pediatric Department, Buzzi Children’s Hospital, 20154 Milan, Italy; (S.M.); (F.P.); (G.C.); (C.C.); (I.R.)
| | - Valeria Calcaterra
- Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy;
- Pediatric Unit, Pediatric Department, Buzzi Children’s Hospital, 20154 Milano, Italy;
| | - Filippo Puricelli
- Pediatric Cardiology Unit, Pediatric Department, Buzzi Children’s Hospital, 20154 Milan, Italy; (S.M.); (F.P.); (G.C.); (C.C.); (I.R.)
| | - Giulia Cecconi
- Pediatric Cardiology Unit, Pediatric Department, Buzzi Children’s Hospital, 20154 Milan, Italy; (S.M.); (F.P.); (G.C.); (C.C.); (I.R.)
| | - Claudia Chillemi
- Pediatric Cardiology Unit, Pediatric Department, Buzzi Children’s Hospital, 20154 Milan, Italy; (S.M.); (F.P.); (G.C.); (C.C.); (I.R.)
| | - Irene Raso
- Pediatric Cardiology Unit, Pediatric Department, Buzzi Children’s Hospital, 20154 Milan, Italy; (S.M.); (F.P.); (G.C.); (C.C.); (I.R.)
| | - Erika Cordaro
- Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy;
- Pediatric Unit, Pediatric Department, Buzzi Children’s Hospital, 20154 Milano, Italy;
| | - Gianvincenzo Zuccotti
- Pediatric Unit, Pediatric Department, Buzzi Children’s Hospital, 20154 Milano, Italy;
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Science, University of Milano, 20157 Milano, Italy
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