title: MicroRNAs: synthesis, mechanism, function, and recent clinical trials.
abstract: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small, endogenous RNAs of 21-25 nucleotides (nts) in length. They play an important regulatory role in animals and plants by targeting specific mRNAs for degradation or translation repression. Recent scientific advances have revealed the synthesis pathways and the regulatory mechanisms of miRNAs in animals and plants. miRNA-based regulation is implicated in disease etiology and has been studied for treatment. Furthermore, several preclinical and clinical trials have been initiated for miRNA-based therapeutics. In this review, the existing knowledge about miRNAs synthesis, mechanisms for regulation of the genome, and their widespread functions in animals and plants is summarized. The current status of preclinical and clinical trials regarding miRNA therapeutics is also reviewed. The recent findings in miRNA studies, summarized in this review, may add new dimensions to small RNA biology and miRNA therapeutics.
authors.affiliation: School of life Sciences and Biotechnology, College of Natural sciences, Kyungpook National University, Buk-ku, Taegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Fazli
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wahid
authors.forename: Adeeb
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shehzad
authors.forename: Taous
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: You Young
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008957:Models, Genetic; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D010944:Plants / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs; D012333:RNA, Messenger