MicroRNA Regulation in Immune Responses and Inflammation
Summary
MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that modulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level, shaping immune and inflammatory processes by guiding RNA-induced silencing complexes to target mRNAs. During innate immune activation, miRNAs adjust thresholds of Toll-like receptor signalling and interferon production, thereby fine-tuning pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine cascades. In macrophages, miRNA networks orchestrate polarisation towards proinflammatory (M1) or reparative (M2) states, influencing host defence, tissue repair and resolution of inflammation. Within adaptive immunity, distinct miRNAs regulate lymphocyte differentiation, antigen presentation and immune tolerance, contributing to the balance between effective pathogen clearance and prevention of autoimmunity. Aberrant miRNA expression profiles have been linked to chronic inflammatory diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis and sepsis, highlighting their utility as biomarkers. Therapeutic modulation of miRNA activity via synthetic mimics or antagonists offers promising avenues to restore immune homeostasis. Emerging evidence underscores the complexity of miRNA-mediated feedback loops and cross-talk between genetic and epigenetic regulators, emphasising global significance for diagnostic innovation and personalised interventions in immune-mediated pathologies.
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MicroRNA Regulation in Immune Responses and Inflammation publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in microrna regulation in immune responses and inflammation across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
MicroRNA: Small non-coding RNA of ~22 nucleotides that regulates gene expression by binding to complementary sequences in target mRNAs.
Macrophage polarisation: Process by which macrophages acquire distinct functional phenotypes (M1 inflammatory or M2 reparative) in response to environmental cues.
Toll-like receptor (TLR): Family of pattern recognition receptors that detect pathogen-associated molecular patterns and initiate innate immune signalling.
3′ untranslated region (3′ UTR): Non-coding segment at the end of an mRNA that contains regulatory elements for post-transcriptional control.
Type I interferon: Group of cytokines (including IFN-α and IFN-β) critical for antiviral defence and regulation of innate immunity.
miRNA mimic/antagonist: Synthetic oligonucleotides designed to respectively enhance or inhibit the activity of specific miRNAs for therapeutic purposes.
References
- MiR-146a alleviates inflammatory bowel disease in mice through systematic regulation of multiple genetic networks. Frontiers in Immunology (2024).
- miRNA-Mediated Fine Regulation of TLR-Induced M1 Polarization. Cells (2024).
- Inhibition of miR-200b-3p confers broad-spectrum resistance to viral infection by targeting TBK1. mBio (2023).
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