title: Targeting microRNAs for immunomodulation.
abstract: microRNAs (miRNA) are small regulatory RNAs exerting pleiotropic functions in virtually any immune cell-type. Dozens of miRNAs with a known function in the immune system constitute interesting drug targets for immunomodulation. Chemical modifications of nucleic acid-based miRNA mimics and inhibitors largely solved instability issues but delivery to immune cells remains a major challenge. However, recent success targeting the acidic tumor microenvironment is very promising for inflammatory diseases. Moreover, small molecules are being explored as an interesting alternative. Although RNA is often considered 'undruggable' by small molecules recent progress modulating miRNA function through small molecules is encouraging. Computational approaches even allow predictions about specific small molecule/RNA interactions. Finally, recent clinical success demonstrates that drugs targeting RNAs work in humans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedicine, Basel University Hospital and University of Basel, Hebelstrasse 20, CH-4031 Basel, Switzerland. Electronic address: lukas.jeker@unibas.ch.
authors.forename: Lukas T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Jeker
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedicine, Basel University Hospital and University of Basel, Hebelstrasse 20, CH-4031 Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Romina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Marone
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000639:trends*; D018390:Gene Targeting / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D056747:Immunomodulation / Q000502:physiology*; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs