title: Contribution of MicroRNAs to autoimmune diseases.
abstract: MicroRNAs are a class of evolutionarily conserved, short non-coding RNAs that post-transcriptionally modulate the expression of multiple target genes. They are implicated in almost every biological process, including pathways involved in immune homeostasis, such as immune cell development, central and peripheral tolerance, and T helper cell differentiation. Alterations in miRNA expression and function can lead to major dysfunction of the immune system and mediate susceptibility to autoimmune disease. Here, we discuss the role of miRNAs in the maintenance of immune tolerance to self-antigens and the gain or loss of miRNA functions on tissue inflammation and autoimmunity.
authors.affiliation: Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Lucien P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Garo
authors.affiliation: Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, 02115, USA. mgopal@rics.bwh.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: Gopal
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Murugaiyan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000378:metabolism; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000276:immunology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007249:Inflammation; D051379:Mice; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000276:immunology; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D001324:Autoantigens; C542542:MIRN146 microRNA, human; C524942:MIRN155 microRNA, human; C524940:MIRN21 microRNA, human; C531950:MIRN21 microRNA, mouse; D035683:MicroRNAs; C534190:Mirn146 microRNA, mouse; C532623:Mirn155 microRNA, mouse
keywords: Dendritic cells; Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE); Immune tolerance; MicroRNA therapeutics; Multiple sclerosis (MS); Th17; miR-146a; miR-155; miR-21