title: Potential relevance of microRNAs in inter-species epigenetic communication, and implications for disease pathogenesis.
abstract: MicroRNAs are short non-protein coding RNA molecules involved in the epigenetic regulation of gene expression. Recently, extracellular microRNAs have been described in body fluids that might enable epigenetic communication between distant tissues. Being highly conserved molecules, exogenous xeno-microRNAs from different species could affect gene expression in the host even in a cross-kingdom fashion. Several data underline the relevance of microRNA-mediated communication between virus and host, and there are some experimental data showing that plant- or animal-derived dietary microRNAs might have gene expression modulating activity in humans. Milk-derived microRNAs might be involved in the "epigenetic priming" of the baby. Exogenous microRNAs might be hypothesized to be implicated in disease pathogenesis, e.g. in tumors. Major questions remain to be addressed including the amount of xeno-microRNAs needed for biological action or routes for microRNA delivery. In this brief review, experimental data and hypotheses on the potential pathogenic inter-species relevance of microRNA are presented.
authors: a 2nd Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine , Semmelweis University , Budapest , Hungary.
authors: Pál
authors: P
authors: Perge
authors: a 2nd Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine , Semmelweis University , Budapest , Hungary.
authors: Zoltán
authors: Z
authors: Nagy
authors: a 2nd Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine , Semmelweis University , Budapest , Hungary.
authors: Ábel
authors: Á
authors: Decmann
authors: b Department of Gastroenterology , Szent Imre Teaching Hospital , Budapest , Hungary.
authors: Ivan
authors: I
authors: Igaz
authors: a 2nd Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine , Semmelweis University , Budapest , Hungary.
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Igaz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics*; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry; D010944:Plants / Q000235:genetics; D014780:Viruses / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs
keywords: Body fluid; diet; inter-individual; inter-species; microRNA; milk; xeno-microRNA