SnoRNAs in cardiovascular development, function, and disease

Small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) have extremely versatile functions. They regulate cardiac-relevant signaling pathways, oxidative and metabolic cellular stress, gene expression, and intercellular communication.Global downregulation of snoRNA expression was uncovered in patients with congenital heart disease and resembles the expression profiles of developing hearts.A broad snoRNA-tRNA-tRNA fragments (tRF) network regulates cellular transcriptome, translatome, and cardiovascular biology.Cardioprotective effects of cortical bone stem cell-derived exosomes on fibroblast activation are largely mediated by snoRNAs.An association between levels of circulating snoRNAs and myocardial infarction and heart failure has been found, indicating the potential of these snoRNAs as biomarkers. Small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) are emerging as important regulators of cardiovascular (patho)biology. Several roles of snoRNAs have recently been identified in heart development and congenital heart diseases, as well as their dynamic regulation in hypertrophic and dilated cardiomyopathies, coronary heart disease (CHD), myocardial infarction (MI), cardiac fibrosis, and heart failure. Furthermore, reports of changes in vesicular snoRNA expression and altered levels of circulating snoRNAs in response to cardiac stress suggest that snoRNAs also function in cardiac signaling and intercellular communication. In this review, we summarize and discuss key findings and outline the clinical potential of snoRNAs considering current challenges and gaps in the field of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) are emerging as important regulators of cardiovascular (patho)biology. Several roles of snoRNAs have recently been identified in heart development and congenital heart diseases, as well as their dynamic regulation in hypertrophic and dilated cardiomyopathies, coronary heart disease (CHD), myocardial infarction (MI), cardiac fibrosis, and heart failure. Furthermore, reports of changes in vesicular snoRNA expression and altered levels of circulating snoRNAs in response to cardiac stress suggest that snoRNAs also function in cardiac signaling and intercellular communication. In this review, we summarize and discuss key findings and outline the clinical potential of snoRNAs considering current challenges and gaps in the field of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).