Jan

29

microRNA-146a

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While it is clear now that microRNAs play an important regulatory role in nearly all areas of biology, what may be more interesting is the breath of function of just a single microRNA.  It is estimated that microRNAs regulate up to 60% of all genes and some say that “each microRNA can target hundreds of genes” and “a single microRNA can regulate entire networks of genes”. So here is an interesting look at a single microRNA that has a far-reaching effect in many biological systems.

Several studies have demonstrated the functional role of microRNA-146a in the immune response. MicroRNA-146a feedback inhibits production in macrophages, is upregulated by HSV-1 infection, has been associated with proinflammatory signaling in stressed brain cells and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) brain, modulates CFH gene expression to regulate an inflammatory response, and plays a functional role in T lymphocyte-mediated immune response. These and other studies demonstrate the great potential for anti-miRNAs as an effective therapeutic strategy against pathogenic inflammatory signaling.

Additionally, there have been many reports describing microRNA-146a’s role in cancer.  MicroRNA-146a suppresses prostate cancer transformation from androgen-dependent to -independent cells, suppresses a  kinase coding gene which reduces cell proliferation, invasion, and metastasis to human bone marrow endothelial cell monolayers, and is dysregulated by latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) which contributes substantially to the oncogenic potential of Epstein-Barr virus. It is projected that microRNA-146a and other microRNAs may one day become biomarkers for clinical diagnosis of several types of cancer.

  1. Curtale G, Citarella F, Carissimi C, Goldoni M, Carucci N, Fulci V, Franceschini D, Meloni F, Barnaba V, Macino G. (2010) An emerging player in the adaptive immune response: microRNA-146a is a modulator of IL-2 expression and activation-induced cell death in T lymphocytes. Blood 115(2), 265-73. [abstract]
  2. Hou J, Wang P, Lin L, Liu X, Ma F, An H, Wang Z, Cao X. (2009) MicroRNA-146a feedback inhibits RIG-I-dependent Type I IFN production in macrophages by targeting TRAF6, IRAK1, and IRAK2. J Immunol 183(3), 2150-58.  [abstract]
  3. Hill JM, Zhao Y, Clement C, Neumann DM, Lukiw WJ.  (2009) HSV-1 infection of human brain cells induces miRNA-146a and Alzheimer-type inflammatory signaling.  Neuroreport  20(16), 1500-505.  [abstract]
  4. Lukiw WJ, Zhao Y, Cui JG.  (2008) An NF-kappaB-sensitive micro RNA-146a-mediated inflammatory circuit in Alzheimer disease and in stressed human brain cells. J Biol Chem 283(46), 31315-22.  [abstract]
  5. Cameron JE, Yin Q, Fewell C, Lacey M, McBride J, Wang X, Lin Z, Schaefer BC, Flemington EK. (2008) The Epstein-Barr Virus latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) induces cellular microRNA-146a, a modulator of lymphocyte signaling pathways. J Virol 82(4), 1946-58. [abstract]
  6. Lin SL, Chiang A, Chang D, Ying SY. (2008) Loss of mir-146a function in hormone-refractory prostate cancer. RNA 14(3), 417-24.  [abstract]

Sep

11

MicroRNAs play a critical role in immune system by regulating/fine tuning inflammatory response

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MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have proven to be extremely important part of the gene expression regulation mechanism. LC Sciences microRNA profiling services have helped many researchers to explore and examine miRNA cellular networks. Expression profiling and functional studies indicate that miRNAs participate in the regulation of almost every cellular process investigated and that changes in their expression have a profound effect on their gene targeting activities. While the role of miRNAs in cell development and tumorigenesis was recognized early on, the importance of these small RNAs on immune system development and function has only been touched on recently. Initial studies have indicated that miRNAs have a role in the regulation of immune response and inflammation. Although inflammation protects against pathogenic stimuli and promotes healing, it may actually cause more damage than the activating event if not strictly controlled by essential, internal negative regulators. Out of control immune response causes various forms of chronic inflammatory diseases. Read more