title: Association of MicroRNA-146a with autoimmune diseases.
abstract: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a group of approximately 20-22-nucleotide-long non-coding RNAs that repress target gene expression through mRNA degradation and translation inhibition. MiRNA (miR)-146a, located in the second exon of the LOC285628 gene on human chromosome 5, is a negative regulator in immune and inflammatory responses. Studies have indicated that miR-146a is associated with the pathogenesis of several autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and Sjögren's syndrome. In this review, emphasis will be laid on the recent progress in the functional roles of miR-146a in these autoimmune diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, 230032, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Wang-Dong
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Man-Man
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Hai-Feng
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Dong-Qing
authors.initials: DQ
authors.lastname: Ye
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000235:genetics*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000235:genetics*; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: C542542:MIRN146 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs