title: MicroRNAs in kidney disease: an emerging understanding.
abstract: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short noncoding RNA molecules that function by negatively regulating the expression of their target genes in a tightly controlled manner. Accumulating evidence, based in part on effects seen after miRNA overexpression and/or knockdown, points to the critical involvement of miRNAs in kidney function in health and disease. In this review, we provide a quick overview of the biogenesis of miRNAs and their potential involvement in kidney development and normal function. We also discuss the current literature that has begun to uncover the role of miRNAs in the pathogenesis of kidney diseases, including diabetic nephropathy, hypertension, glomerulonephritis, and cancer. As such, miRNAs have potential utility in the clinical realm as disease biomarkers. Moreover, miRNAs represent an attractive therapeutic target for a number of kidney diseases. We close by discussing a number of potential challenges that face the field of miRNA research and clinical use.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine and the Keenan Research Centre in the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Canada.
authors.forename: Heba W Z
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Khella
authors.forename: Marize
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bakhet
authors.forename: Zsuzsanna
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Lichner
authors.forename: Alexander D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Romaschin
authors.forename: Michael A S
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Jewett
authors.forename: George M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Yousef
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs