MicroRNAs: Novel regulatory molecules in acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome.
Acute lung injury (ALI) and the more severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are common and complex inflammatory lung diseases. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a type of non-coding RNA molecule that regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level, have emerged as a novel class of gene regulators, which have critical roles in a wide range of human disorders and diseases, including ALI. Certain types of miRNAs are abnormally expressed in response to lung injury. miRNAs can regulate inflammation pathways by targeting specific molecules and modulate immune response in the process of lung injury and repair. The regulation of miRNA can relieve injury response and promote the recovery of ALI/ARDS. Therefore, miRNAs may serve as novel therapeutic targets in ALI/ARDS.
Department of Anesthesiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai 200233, P.R. China.
Yongmei
Y
Cao
Department of Anesthesiology, Kunming Children's Hospital, Kunming, Yunnan 650034, P.R. China.
Y I
YI
Lyu
Department of Anesthesiology, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou 563099, P.R. China.
Jiahua
J
Tang
Department of Anesthesiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai 200233, P.R. China.
Yingchuan
Y
Li
acute lung injury; immune response; inflammation; miRNAs; targets