MicroRNA Polymorphisms in Autoimmune Disease Susceptibility
Summary
MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNA molecules that fine-tune gene expression by directing the degradation or translational repression of target messenger RNAs. Genetic polymorphisms within microRNA genes—whether in the seed region that dictates target specificity, in the precursor sequence that affects biogenesis, or in promoter elements that regulate transcription—can alter microRNA abundance and function. Such variants have been implicated in the onset, progression and clinical heterogeneity of autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, Hashimoto thyroiditis and mixed connective tissue disease. By modulating key immune pathways—such as type I interferon signalling, toll-like receptor cascades and cytokine networks—microRNA polymorphisms influence immune cell activation, tolerance breakdown and tissue damage. Advances in genotyping and functional assays have identified risk alleles that serve both as biomarkers for disease susceptibility and as potential targets for personalised therapeutic strategies.
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MicroRNA Polymorphisms in Autoimmune Disease Susceptibility publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in microrna polymorphisms in autoimmune disease susceptibility across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
MicroRNA: Small non-coding RNA that regulates gene expression post-transcriptionally.
Single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP): A variation of a single nucleotide at a specific genomic position.
Seed region: The segment of a microRNA (nucleotides 2–8) crucial for target mRNA recognition.
Promoter variant: A polymorphism within a regulatory DNA sequence that influences transcription initiation.
Case–control study: An observational design comparing individuals with a condition to matched controls to identify genetic or environmental risk factors.
References
- Association of miR-499 Polymorphism and Its Regulatory Networks with Hashimoto Thyroiditis Susceptibility: A Population-Based Case-Control Study. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2021).
- Association study between immune-related miRNAs and mixed connective tissue disease. Arthritis Research & Therapy (2021).
- A Functional Variant in MicroRNA-146a Promoter Modulates Its Expression and Confers Disease Risk for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. PLOS Genetics (2011).
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