Dysregulation of microRNAs in autoimmune diseases: Pathogenesis, biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets

• Published in: Cancer letters 2018-08, Vol.428, p.90-103
• Main Authors: Long, Hai, Wang, Xin, Chen, Yongjian, Wang, Ling, Zhao, Ming, Lu, Qianjin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adaptive immunity; Apoptosis; Autoimmune diseases; Bioindicators; Biomarkers; Biopsy; Chronic conditions; Cyclin-dependent kinases; Dermatomyositis; Dermatomyositis (DM); Disease; Environmental factors; Epigenetic mechanisms; Fibroblasts; Gene expression; Genomes; Growth factors; Homeostasis; Immune response; Immunity; Inflammation; Kinases; Lupus; Lymphocytes; MicroRNAs; miRNA; Pathogenesis; Post-transcription; Proteins; Rheumatoid arthritis; Rheumatoid arthritis (RA); RNA polymerase; Scleroderma; Sclerosis; Spatial discrimination; Systemic lupus erythematosus; Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE); Systemic sclerosis; Systemic sclerosis (SSc); Therapeutic applications
• ISSN: 0304-3835; 1872-7980
• DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2018.04.016

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, single-stranded, endogenous non-coding RNAs that repress the expression of target genes via post-transcriptional mechanisms. Due to their broad regulatory effects, the precisely regulated, spatial-specific and temporal-specific expression of miRNAs is fundamentally important to various biological processes including the immune homeostasis and normal function of both innate and adaptive immune response. Aberrance of miRNAs is implicated in the development of various human diseases, especially cancers. Increasing evidence has revealed a dysregulated expression pattern of miRNAs in autoimmune diseases, among which many play key roles in the pathogenesis. In this review we summarize these findings on miRNA dysregulation implicated in autoimmune diseases, focusing on four representative systemic autoimmune diseases, i.e. systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic sclerosis and dermatomyositis. The causes of the dysregulation of miRNA expression in autoimmune diseases may include genetic and epigenetic variants, and various environmental factors. Further understanding of miRNA dysregulation and its mechanisms during the development of different autoimmune diseases holds enormous potential to bring about novel therapeutic targets or strategies for these complex human disorders, as well as novel circulating or exosomal miRNA biomarkers. •miRNAs play crucial roles in regulating both innate and adaptive immune response.•miRNA dysregulation are implicated in the pathogenesis of many autoimmune diseases.•Genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors affect miRNAs and cause autoimmunity.•miRNAs serve as potential therapeutic targets and biomarkers for autoimmune diseases.•Circulating miRNAs and exosomal miRNAs may be ideal novel biomarkers for SLE and RA.