title: Unravelling the complexity of COPD by microRNAs: it's a small world after all.
abstract: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive lung disease and is currently the fourth leading cause of death worldwide. Chronic inflammation and repair processes in the small airways are characteristic of COPD. Despite extensive efforts from researchers and industry, there is still no cure for COPD, hence an urgent need for new therapeutic alternatives. MicroRNAs are such an option; they are small noncoding RNAs involved in gene regulation. Their importance has been shown with respect to maintaining the balance between health and disease. Although previous reviews have discussed the expression of microRNAs related to lung disease, a detailed discussion regarding the function of differential miRNA expression in the pathogenesis of COPD is lacking.In this review we link the expression of microRNAs to different features of COPD and explain their importance in the pathogenesis of this disease. We further discuss their potential to contribute to the development of future therapeutic strategies.
authors.affiliation: University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Dept of Pathology and Medical Biology, Groningen, The Netherlands University of Groningen, Groningen Research Institute for Asthma and COPD (GRIAC), University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands Both authors contributed equally as first authors.
authors.forename: Emmanuel T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Osei
authors.affiliation: University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Dept of Pathology and Medical Biology, Groningen, The Netherlands University of Groningen, Groningen Research Institute for Asthma and COPD (GRIAC), University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands Both authors contributed equally as first authors.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Florez-Sampedro
authors.affiliation: University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Dept of Pathology and Medical Biology, Groningen, The Netherlands University of Groningen, Groningen Research Institute for Asthma and COPD (GRIAC), University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Wim
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Timens
authors.affiliation: University of Groningen, Groningen Research Institute for Asthma and COPD (GRIAC), University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Dept of Pulmonology, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Dirkje S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Postma
authors.affiliation: University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Dept of Pathology and Medical Biology, Groningen, The Netherlands University of Groningen, Groningen Research Institute for Asthma and COPD (GRIAC), University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Dept of Pulmonology, Groningen, The Netherlands Both authors contributed equally as last authors.
authors.forename: Irene H
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Heijink
authors.affiliation: University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Dept of Pathology and Medical Biology, Groningen, The Netherlands University of Groningen, Groningen Research Institute for Asthma and COPD (GRIAC), University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands Both authors contributed equally as last authors c.a.brandsma@umcg.nl.
authors.forename: Corry-Anke
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Brandsma
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D011379:Prognosis; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs