Epidemiological and experimental observations tend to prove that environment, lifestyle
or nutritional challenges influence heart functions together with genetic factors.
Furthermore, when occurring during sensitive windows of heart development, these environmental
challenges can induce an 'altered programming' of heart development and shape the
future heart disease risk. In the etiology of heart diseases driven by environmental
challenges, epigenetics has been highlighted as an underlying mechanism, constituting
a bridge between environment and heart health. In particular, micro-RNAs which are
involved in each step of heart development and functions seem to play a crucial role
in the unfavorable programming of heart diseases. This review describes the latest
advances in micro-RNA research in heart diseases driven by early exposure to challenges
and discusses the use of micro-RNAs as potential targets in the reversal of the pathophysiology.
