**11. Circulating miRNAs**

Recently presence of miRNAs is demonstrated in circulating blood, which may be useful as biomarkers for diseases [51]. Analysis of serum or plasma for circulating levels of miRNAs in normal individuals and in patients with coronary artery disease revealed circulating levels of angiogenesis-related miRNA-126 and miRNA-92a, the inflammation-associated miRNA-155; and VSMC-enriched miRNA-145 and miRNA-17 are significantly reduced in patients with coronary artery disease compared to normal individuals [51]. Whereas cardiac muscleenriched miRNAs, miRNA-133a and -208a are elevated in patients with disease. These observations suggest that circulating miRNAs can be used as biomarkers for diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases.
