MicroRNA Modulation in Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Infection
Summary
MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNA molecules that fine-tune gene expression and play pivotal roles in the host response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis. During infection, the pathogen manipulates host microRNA profiles to subvert immune defences, while the host deploys specific microRNAs to regulate pathways of autophagy, apoptosis, cytokine production and macrophage activation. Exosomal microRNAs provide a means of intercellular communication, serving both as mediators of immune modulation and as candidate biomarkers for disease detection and treatment monitoring. Insights into microRNA targets—such as transcription factors, signalling kinases and chromatin remodellers—have illuminated how Mycobacterium tuberculosis evades phagosome maturation and persists intracellularly. Recent investigations are expanding the prospect of host-directed therapies that harness or mimic microRNA function, or employ nanoparticle-mediated delivery systems to restore protective immune circuits. A comprehensive understanding of microRNA networks offers global significance by informing novel diagnostic tools and therapeutic strategies to combat drug-resistant and latent forms of tuberculosis.
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MicroRNA Modulation in Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Infection publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in microrna modulation in mycobacterium tuberculosis infection across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
microRNA: A small non-coding RNA of ~22 nucleotides that regulates gene expression by binding target messenger RNAs.
Exosome: A nanoscale extracellular vesicle released by cells, carrying proteins and RNAs to mediate intercellular communication.
Autophagy: A cellular degradation process in which cytoplasmic components are sequestered in autophagosomes and delivered to lysosomes.
Apoptosis: Programmed cell death involving characteristic morphological changes and DNA fragmentation, crucial for eliminating infected cells.
Macrophage polarization: The differentiation of macrophages into classically activated (M1) or alternatively activated (M2) states with distinct functional phenotypes.
References
- Cargoes of exosomes function as potential biomarkers for Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Frontiers in Immunology (2023).
- The miR-100-5p Targets SMARCA5 to Regulate the Apoptosis and Intracellular Survival of BCG in Infected THP-1 Cells. Cells (2023).
- Mmu-miR-25-3p promotes macrophage autophagy by targeting DUSP10 to reduce mycobacteria survival. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology (2023).
- miRNAs in Tuberculosis: New Avenues for Diagnosis and Host-Directed Therapy. Frontiers in Microbiology (2018).
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