Current attempts to implement microRNA-based diagnostics and therapy in cardiovascular and metabolic disease: a promising future

•miRNAs play a major part in the pathogenesis of metabolic disorders such as diabetes and obesity.•miRNAs additionally serve as biomarkers in the diagnosis, prognosis and risk assessment of disease.•An miRNA-targeted strategy holds potential in preventing vascular and metabolic disease.•miRNAs in stem cell therapy are also discussed. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, noncoding RNAs regulating gene expression at the post-translational level. miRNA-based therapeutic agents are important because of the functionality of miRNAs in regulating lipid and glucose metabolism and their role in the pathogenesis of metabolic disorders such as diabetes and obesity, where dysregulation leads to disease; they are also important in angiogenesis. miRNAs additionally serve as biomarkers in the diagnosis, prognosis and risk assessment of disease and in monitoring the response to treatment. Here, we provide a brief overview of progress in miRNA-based therapeutics in the preclinical and clinical setting and highlight the novel outcomes and opportunities in the diagnosis and treatment of metabolic conditions. In addition, we present the role of miRNAs in stem cell therapy which could have great potential in regenerative medicine.