title: MicroRNA-21 with therapeutic potential in autoimmune diseases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Small, non-coding, microRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as key mediators of post-transcriptional gene silencing in both pathogenic and pathological aspects of disorders. Recently, miR-21 was identified to regulate a variety of immune cells. Functional analysis indicated that miR-21 played a crucial role in a plethora of biological functions and diseases including development, cancer and inflammation, especially correlated with the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  This review provides a comprehensive view on the association of miR-21 and autoimmune disorders, such as type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis and psoriasis. Especially the mechanisms of miR-21 perform in these diseases, and the mechanisms that regulate miR-21.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Though the exact roles of miR-21 in autoimmune diseases have not been fully elucidated, targeting miR-21 may serve as a promising therapy strategy.
authors.affiliation: Anhui Medical University, School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics , 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, 230032 , PR China.
authors.forename: Wang-Dong
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Hai-Feng
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Jie-Hua
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Dong-Qing
authors.initials: DQ
authors.lastname: Ye
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000276:immunology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D020868:Gene Silencing; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: C524940:MIRN21 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs