title: Introduction: MicroRNAs in human reproduction: small molecules with crucial regulatory roles.
abstract: MicroRNAs constitute a large family of approximately 21-nucleotide-long, noncoding RNAs. They emerged more than 20 years ago as key posttranscriptional regulators of gene expression. The regulatory role of these small RNA molecules has recently begun to be explored in the human reproductive system. In this issue's Views and Reviews, the authors present the current knowledge regarding the involvement of microRNAs in several aspects of human reproduction and discuss its future implications for clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: IVF Unit and The Magda and Richard Hoffman Center for Human Placenta Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Mount Scopus, Jerusalem, Israel. Electronic address: talim@hadassah.org.il.
authors.forename: Tal
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Imbar
authors.affiliation: Division of Reproductive Medicine, Instituto Valeciano de Infertilidad, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Galliano
authors.affiliation: Instituto Valenciano de Infertilidad and Instituto Universitario IVI, Valencia University, Valencia, Spain; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Valencia University school of Medicine, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pellicer
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Medicine, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Neri
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Laufer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000235:genetics; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012098:Reproduction / Q000235:genetics; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs
keywords: microRNA; reproduction