title: Expression and function of micro-RNAs in immune cells during normal or disease state.
abstract: Micro-RNAs (miRNAs) are 19-24 nucleotide long non-coding RNAs that posttranscriptionally modulate gene expression. They are found in almost all species: viruses, plants, nematodes, fly, fish, mouse, human, and are implicated in a wide array of cellular and developmental processes. Microarray-based miRNA profiling brought to the discovery of miRNAs specific to different hematopoietic lineages. Furthermore, the functional assays performed in tissue cultures to discover miRNAs involved in immune responses in combination with the reports of miRNA-transgenic or miRNA -knockout mouse models has helped elucidating the miRNA roles in the development and function of immune system. Abnormal patterns of hematopoietic-specific miRNAs have been found in different types of cancer and miRNA based gene therapy is being considered as a potential technology of choice in immunological disorders and cancer. The purpose of this review is to discuss recent findings related with the expression and function of miRNAs in hematopoietic lineages.
authors.affiliation: Ohio State University, Department of Molecular Virology, Immunology, Medical Genetics, Comprehensive Cancer Center, 385L Wiseman Hall, 400 W. 12th Ave., Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
authors.forename: Esmerina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tili
authors.forename: Jean-Jacques
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Michaille
authors.forename: George Adrian
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Calin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D019070:Cell Lineage; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D006413:Hematopoietic System / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000378:metabolism*; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs