title: Expression, regulation and function of microRNAs in multiple sclerosis.
abstract: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are single-stranded 19-25 nucleotide-long RNAs and have an important role in post-transcriptional gene silencing. It has been demonstrated that miRNAs are dysregulated in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). For instance, miR-21, miR-142-3p, miR-146a, miR-146b, miR-155 and miR-326 were up-regulated in both peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and brain white matter lesions from MS patients and mouse model as well. These up-regulated miRNAs may be used as a signature for MS and play critical roles in MS pathogenesis. Moreover, miR-15a, miR-19a, miR-22, miR-210 and miR-223 were up-regulated in both regulatory T cells (Tregs) and other samples such as plasma, blood cells, PBMCs and brain white matter tissues from MS patients, suggesting that these up-regulated miRNAs and Tregs may also play a role in MS pathogenesis. Contrarily, other miRNAs such as miR-15a, miR-15b, miR-181c and miR-328 were down-regulated in MS. Drugs such as interferon-β and glatiramer acetate for MS treatment may regulate miRNA expression and thus have benefits for MS patients. The dysregulated miRNAs such as miR-155 and miR-326 may be used as diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets for MS.
authors.affiliation: 1. Institute for Tumor Immunology, Ludong University College of Life Sciences, 186 Hongqi Middle Road, Yantai, Shandong 264025, China.
authors.forename: Xinting
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: 1. Institute for Tumor Immunology, Ludong University College of Life Sciences, 186 Hongqi Middle Road, Yantai, Shandong 264025, China.
authors.forename: Juhua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: 2. Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of South Carolina, 6439 Garners Ferry Road, Columbia, SC 29209, USA.
authors.forename: Yin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.affiliation: 1. Institute for Tumor Immunology, Ludong University College of Life Sciences, 186 Hongqi Middle Road, Yantai, Shandong 264025, China.
authors.forename: Linlin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: 1. Institute for Tumor Immunology, Ludong University College of Life Sciences, 186 Hongqi Middle Road, Yantai, Shandong 264025, China.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mu
authors.affiliation: 1. Institute for Tumor Immunology, Ludong University College of Life Sciences, 186 Hongqi Middle Road, Yantai, Shandong 264025, China.
authors.forename: Yanmin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: 2. Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of South Carolina, 6439 Garners Ferry Road, Columbia, SC 29209, USA.
authors.forename: Narendra
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: 2. Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of South Carolina, 6439 Garners Ferry Road, Columbia, SC 29209, USA.
authors.forename: Mitzi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nagarkatti
authors.affiliation: 2. Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of South Carolina, 6439 Garners Ferry Road, Columbia, SC 29209, USA.
authors.forename: Prakash
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nagarkatti
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D020868:Gene Silencing; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics*; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs
keywords: biomarker; gene expression; gene regulation; miRNA; multiple sclerosis; therapeutic target