Published online May 28, 2013. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i20.2985
Revised: March 29, 2013
Accepted: April 10, 2013
Published online: May 28, 2013
MicroRNAs, a key class of gene expression regulators, have emerged as crucial players in various biological processes such as cellular proliferation and differentiation, development and apoptosis. In addition, microRNAs are coming to light as crucial regulators of innate and adaptive immune responses, and their abnormal expression and/or function in the immune system have been linked to multiple human diseases including inflammatory disorders, such as inflammatory bowel disease, and cancers. In this review, we discuss our current understanding of microRNAs with a focus on their role and mode of action in regulating the immune system during inflammation and carcinogenesis.
Core tip: MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a key class of gene expression regulators, have emerged as crucial players in various biological processes such as cellular proliferation and differentiation, development and apoptosis. A better understanding of the function of miRNAs is providing new insights into the molecular basis of human pathologies, and new biomarkers for disease diagnosis and therapy.