The role of renin-angiotensin aldosterone system related micro-ribonucleic acids in hypertension

Micro-ribonucleic acids (miRNAs) are small (21-25 nucleotide) single-stranded, evolutionarily conserved non-protein-coding RNAs, which control diverse cellular functions by interacting with the 3' untranslated region of specific target messenger RNAs at the post-transcriptional level. Research shows that an aberrant expression profile of miRNAs has been linked to a series of diseases, including hypertension. In the past few decades, it has been demonstrated that excessive activation of the renin-angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS) involves in the pathogenesis of hypertension. This article reviews the latest insights in the identification of RAAS-correlative miRNAs and the potential mechanisms for their roles in hypertension.