RNA modifications have recently become the focus of attention due to
their extensive regulatory effects in a vast array of cellular networks
and signaling pathways. Just as epigenetics is responsible for the
imprinting of environmental conditions on a genetic level,
epitranscriptomics follows the same principle at the RNA level, but in a
more dynamic and sensitive manner. Nevertheless, its impact in the field
of cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains largely unexplored. CVD and its
associated pathologies remain the leading cause of death in Western
populations due to the limited regenerative capacity of the heart. As
such, maintenance of cardiac homeostasis is paramount for its
physiological function and its capacity to respond to environmental
stimuli. In this context, epitranscriptomic modifications offer a novel
and promising therapeutic avenue, based on the fine-tuning of regulatory
cascades, necessary for cardiac function. This review aimed to provide
an overview of the most recent findings of key epitranscriptomic
modifications in both coding and non-coding RNAs. Additionally, the
methods used for their detection and important associations with genetic
variations in the context of CVD were summarized. Current knowledge on
cardiac epitranscriptomics, albeit limited still, indicates that the
impact of epitranscriptomic editing in the heart, in both physiological
and pathological conditions, holds untapped potential for the
development of novel targeted therapeutic approaches in a dynamic
manner
