microRNA-mediated cardiac remodeling in athletes

It has been conclusively proven that physical activity exerts beneficial effects on individual health. However, endurance activities in susceptible individuals can increase the risk of concerning cardiovascular conditions such as ventricular hypertrophy or arrhythmia. This increased risk can be attributed to a cardiac remodeling process specifically associated with endurance sports. In recent years, microRNAs (miRNAs) have been postulated to play many roles in health and disease. In the heart miRNAs regulate electrical remodeling, cardiac dilatation, fibrosis, calcium handling, heart failure, atrial fibrillation and autonomic tone in myocardial infarction. A growing body of evidence suggests that miRNAs also regulate endurance sports induced remodeling of the heart. Since miRNAs circulate in the blood they have a potential role as biomarkers in athletes indicating the degree of remodeling and predicting the risk of progression to an overt disease state.