title: Small RNAs in development and disease.
abstract: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) and short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) are classes of regulatory small RNA molecules, ranging from 18 to 24 nucleotides in length, whose roles in development and disease are becoming increasingly recognized. They function by altering the stability or translational efficiency of messenger RNAs (mRNAs) with which they share sequence complementarity, and are predicted to affect up to one-third of all human genes. Computer algorithms and microarray data estimate the presence of nearly 1000 human miRNAs, and direct examination of candidate miRNAs has validated their involvement in various cancers, disorders of neuronal development, cardiac hypertrophy, and skin diseases such as psoriasis. This article reviews the history of miRNA and siRNA discovery, key aspects of their biogenesis and mechanism of action, and known connections to human health, with an emphasis on their roles in skin development and disease.
authors.affiliation: Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Bryan K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Hensin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tsao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000502:physiology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000502:physiology; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000235:genetics; D034622:RNA Interference / Q000502:physiology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000502:physiology*; D043244:Ribonuclease III / Q000172:deficiency; D012867:Skin / Q000254:growth & development*; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000071223:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 3 Protein; D050826:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: C542542:MIRN146 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; C106644:SOCS3 protein, human; D000071223:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 3 Protein; D050826:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins; D043244:Ribonuclease III