title: MicroRNAs and cystic fibrosis--an epigenetic perspective.
abstract: CF (cystic fibrosis) is a recessive genetic disease caused by mutations of the CFTR (cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator), a cAMP-activated anion channel, exhibiting a multitude of clinical manifestations including lung inflammation/infection, pancreatic insufficiency/diabetes, intestinal obstruction and infertility in both sexes. While mutation DF508 is found in 70% of CF patients, large variation in disease phenotypes and severity is observed among the patients. This review discusses current theories accounting for the disease variations and puts forth an epigenetic hypothesis involving microRNAs.
authors.affiliation: †Epithelial Cell Biology Research Center, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Wenming
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hui
authors.forename: Sidney Siu Bun
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jing
authors.forename: Hsiao Chang
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Chan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000235:genetics*; D019005:Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator / Q000235:genetics; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs; D019005:Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator