title: The role of microRNAs in human diseases.
abstract: About 20 years have passed since the discovery of the first microRNA (miRNA) and by now microRNAs are implicated in a variety of physiological and pathological processes. Since the discovery of the powerful effect miRNAs have on biological processes, it has been suggested that mutations affecting miRNA function may play a role in the pathogenesis of human diseases. Over the past several years microRNAs have been found to play a major role in various human diseases. In addition, many studies aim to apply miRNAs for diagnostic and therapeutic applications in human diseases. In this chapter, we summarize the role of miRNAs in pathological processes and discuss how miRNAs could be used as disease biomarkers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Institute of Health Science, University of Dokuz Eylul, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Kemal Uğur
authors.initials: KU
authors.lastname: Tüfekci
authors.forename: Meryem Gülfem
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Oner
authors.forename: Ralph Leo Johan
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Meuwissen
authors.forename: Sermin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Genç
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D009154:Mutation; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D035683:MicroRNAs