MicroRNAs Modulate the Purinergic Signaling Network.
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNA molecules capable of silencing mRNA targets. miRNA dysregulation has been linked to cancer development, cardiovascular and neurological diseases, lipid metabolism, and impaired immunity. Therefore, miRNAs are gaining interest as putative novel disease biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Recent studies have shown that purinergic surface receptors activated by extracellular nucleotides (ATP, ADP, UTP, UDP), and by nucleosides such as adenosine (ADO), are subject to miRNA regulation. This opens a new and previously unrecognized opportunity to modulate the purinergic network with the aim of avoiding abnormal activation of specific receptor subtypes. miRNA technology will hopefully contribute strategies to prevent purinergic-mediated tissue damage in conditions of neurodegeneration, atherosclerosis, transplantation, and even neoplasia.
Department of Life Science and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy. Electronic address: davide.ferrari@unife.it.
Davide
D
Ferrari
Department of Life Science and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
Nicoletta
N
Bianchi
Department of Anesthesiology, University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Houston, TX, USA.
Holger K
HK
Eltzschig
Department of Life Science and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
Roberto
R
Gambari
D000818:Animals; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011983:Receptors, Purinergic / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction
D035683:MicroRNAs; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011983:Receptors, Purinergic
P1 receptors; P2 receptors; extracellular nucleotides; miRNAs