title: MicroRNA-mediated immune modulation as a therapeutic strategy in host-implant integration.
abstract: The concept of implanting an artificial device into the human body was once the preserve of science fiction, yet this approach is now often used to replace lost or damaged biological structures in human patients. However, assimilation of medical devices into host tissues is a complex process, and successful implant integration into patients is far from certain. The body's immediate response to a foreign object is immune-mediated reaction, hence there has been extensive research into biomaterials that can reduce or even ablate anti-implant immune responses. There have also been attempts to embed or coat anti-inflammatory drugs and pro-regulatory molecules onto medical devices with the aim of preventing implant rejection by the host. In this review, we summarize the key immune mediators of medical implant reaction, and we evaluate the potential of microRNAs to regulate these processes to promote wound healing, and prolong host-implant integration.
authors.affiliation: Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 8A Biomedical Grove, Immunos Building, Level 4, Biopolis, Singapore 138648, Singapore.
authors.forename: Siew-Min
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Ong
authors.affiliation: Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 8A Biomedical Grove, Immunos Building, Level 4, Biopolis, Singapore 138648, Singapore.
authors.forename: Subhra K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Biswas
authors.affiliation: Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 8A Biomedical Grove, Immunos Building, Level 4, Biopolis, Singapore 138648, Singapore. Electronic address: wong_siew_cheng@immunol.a-star.edu.sg.
authors.forename: Siew-Cheng
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Wong
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology*; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000276:immunology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000276:immunology*; D000071199:NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein; D010014:Osteolysis / Q000276:immunology; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D035683:MicroRNAs; D000071199:NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein; C453881:NLRP3 protein, human
keywords: Foreign body reaction; Immune response; Macrophages; Osteolysis; Pro-inflammatory cytokines; TLR; miRNAs