microRNA-208a (miR-208a)

microRNA-208a (miR-208a) is a small, non-coding RNA molecule (~22 nucleotides) that plays a crucial role in the regulation of gene expression in the heart. Encoded within an intron of the α-cardiac muscle myosin heavy chain gene (*MYH6*), miR-208a is specifically expressed in cardiac tissue and is essential for normal cardiac growth, function, and electrical conduction. It acts predominantly as a post-transcriptional regulator, targeting mRNAs for degradation or translation inhibition. MiR-208a is a key regulator of pathological cardiac hypertrophy and arrhythmogenesis; its overexpression induces hypertrophy and arrhythmia, whereas its inhibition attenuates pathological remodeling after cardiac stress. It also modulates systemic energy metabolism and is being investigated as both a therapeutic target and a circulating biomarker for cardiac diseases[1][3][5].

Other names

hsa-mir-208hsa-mir-208aMIR208MIRN208MIRN208AmiRNA208MIR208A

Inhibition of miR-208a (using antagomirs/antisense oligonucleotides) to reduce cardiac hypertrophy and maladaptive remodeling[3]. Modulation of downstream gene expression by altering mRNA stability and translation.