MicroRNA Expression and Regulation in Sexual Dimorphism
Summary
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as pivotal regulators of gene expression, shaping diverse biological processes through post-transcriptional control. Sexual dimorphism, the systematic differences between males and females, is orchestrated not only by sex chromosomes and gonadal hormones but also by nuanced epigenetic mechanisms. Recent research has illuminated how miRNA biogenesis, chromosomal localisation—particularly on the X chromosome—and hormone-dependent modulation converge to yield sex-specific expression profiles. These profiles influence tissue development, metabolic pathways, immune responses and susceptibility to disease. For instance, differential miRNA expression in embryonic tissues sets the foundation for sex-biased development of the nervous system, while hormone-regulated miRNAs in adult tissues contribute to sex-specific disease phenotypes in cancer and autoimmune disorders. Advances in high-throughput sequencing and integrative bioinformatics have enabled the identification of sex-biased miRNAs and their target networks, revealing interconnections between chromosomal dosage, transcriptional control and cellular differentiation. This growing body of work underscores the global significance of miRNA-mediated regulation in sexual dimorphism and suggests new avenues for diagnostics and therapeutic interventions tailored to male and female biology.
Research from Nature Portfolio
A foundational study conducted expression analysis of both miRNAs and mRNAs across multiple tumour types, uncovering instances of miRNAs that exhibit opposing deregulation patterns in male versus female cohorts. Sequence-based clustering revealed that certain miRNA families and genomic clusters manifest sex-specific expression divergence, yet their mRNA targets often maintain stable expression between sexes. These findings emphasise the flexibility of miRNA regulation in driving sexual dimorphism at the transcriptome level and indicate critical considerations for sex-aware biomarker discovery and therapeutic design in oncology.
MicroRNA Expression and Regulation in Sexual Dimorphism publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in microrna expression and regulation in sexual dimorphism across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
microRNA (miRNA): Small non-coding RNA molecules (~21–23 nucleotides) that regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally by guiding target messenger RNAs to degradation or translational repression.
Sexual dimorphism: Systematic physiological, morphological or molecular differences between male and female organisms arising from genetic, hormonal and epigenetic factors.
Post-transcriptional regulation: Control mechanisms acting on RNA molecules after transcription, including splicing, editing, stability and translation.
X inactivation: Epigenetic silencing of one X chromosome in female mammals to equalise X-linked gene dosage between sexes.
Epigenetics: Heritable modifications of gene expression that do not involve changes in DNA sequence, often mediated by DNA methylation, histone modifications or non-coding RNAs.
References
- miRNA and mRNA expression analysis reveals potential sex-biased miRNA expression. Scientific Reports (2017).
- Sex-biased gene and microRNA expression in the developing mouse brain is associated with neurodevelopmental functions and neurological phenotypes. Biology of Sex Differences (2023).
- What microRNAs could tell us about the human X chromosome. Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences (2020).
- Influence of sex differences on microRNA gene regulation in disease. Biology of Sex Differences (2014).
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