title: Roles of small RNAs in the immune defense mechanisms of crustaceans.
abstract: Small RNAs, 21-24 nucleotides in length, are non-coding RNAs found in most multicellular organisms, as well as in some viruses. There are three main types of small RNAs including microRNA (miRNA), small-interfering RNA (siRNA), and piwi-interacting RNA (piRNA). Small RNAs play key roles in the genetic regulation of eukaryotes; at least 50% of all eukaryote genes are the targets of small RNAs. In recent years, studies have shown that some unique small RNAs are involved in the immune response of crustaceans, leading to lower or higher immune responses to infections and diseases. SiRNAs could be used as therapy for virus infection. In this review, we provide an overview of the diverse roles of small RNAs in the immune defense mechanisms of crustaceans.
authors.affiliation: Ocean College, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yaodong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Collaborative Innovation Center of Deep-sea Biology and College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Chenyu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ju
authors.affiliation: Collaborative Innovation Center of Deep-sea Biology and College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: zxb0812@zju.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Xiaobo
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003445:Crustacea / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D034622:RNA Interference / Q000276:immunology*; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering
keywords: Innate immunity; miRNA; siRNA