microRNA与肾间质纤维化的研究进展

小分子核糖核酸(microRNA)是一类约20个核苷酸单链,在转录后水平调节基因的表达。microRNA广泛分布于人体各个组织器官内,但同时也有显著的组织特异性,不同的组织器官中miRNA的表达强度有显著差异,某些microRNAs在肾脏组织中呈特异性的高表达。肾间质纤维化是各种慢性肾脏病进展至终末期,最终导致器官功能丢失的共同的病理过程和特征。通过多年累积的研究表明,一些特定的microRNAs与肾间质纤维化的进程密切相关,在这个过程中体现出极其复杂的调控机制,发挥多方面的作用。近年来,随着对microRNA的研究进一步深入,本文就microRNAs在肾间质纤维化进程中的表达特点、作用靶点及相关调控机制的研究进展进行如下综述。     

microRNA在小鼠乳腺不同发育时期差异表达谱及作用

microRNA是一类大小约22个核苷酸的非编码RNA分子,是一种广泛存在的对基因表达进行微调的分子。microRNA可以通过与靶基因mRNA的特定位点结合,抑制该蛋白的合成或诱导该mRNA的降解,从而参与基因的表达调控。一般来源于染色体的非编码区域,由大约70个核苷酸大小的可形成发夹结构的前体经Dicer酶加工而来。这类小RNA在表达上具有组织和时间的特异性,是调节其他功能基因表达的重要调控分子,在生物的生长发育过程中发挥着重要作用。因此,虽然microRNA的研究仅有很短的历史,但已成为基因表达调控研究的热点领域。以中国昆明小鼠不同发育时期的乳腺组织为实验材料,应用芯片技术及荧光定量PCR技术,分析发育不同时期的乳腺组织microRNA差异表达图谱。本文研究发现microRNA在乳腺不同的发育时期表达图谱不同;与青春期、退化期比较,妊娠期、哺乳期有十余种microRNAs表达上调,20余种microRNAs表达下调;microRNAs在乳腺发育和泌乳周期中发挥重要的作用。     

MiRNA对上皮-间质转化的调控作用

上皮-间质转化(epithelial-mesenchymal transition,EMT)是胚胎发育、组织分化和器官形成的重要生理过程,也是慢性炎症、器官纤维化和癌症转移等疾病的重要病理过程。近年来发现多种微RNA(microRNA,miRNA)通过靶向EMT相关蛋白,例如E-钙粘蛋白(E-cadherin)、波形蛋白(Vimentin)、Snail、ZEB和Twist等转录因子来调控EMT的发生和发展,这些例子揭示了EMT分子机制的"冰山一角",一个庞大的EMT转录后调控网络正在被发现。本文总结了miRNA对EMT相关蛋白的调控作用,并对miRNA-EMT调控网络的后续研究进行了讨论。     

miR-188-5p对肾间质纤维化过程中MMP-13表达的影响

目的:探讨miR-188-5p对肾间质纤维化过程中基质金属蛋白酶(matrixmetalloproteinases,MMPs)表达的影响。方法:采用TGF-β1诱导肾小球系膜细胞(Mesangial cells,MC)纤维化,观察纤维化过程中miR-188-5p和MMP-13的表达变化;通过报告基因实验研究miR-188-5p对MMP-13的调控作用;通过脂质体转染的方法将人工合成的miR-188-5p mimics/inhibitor转入细胞内增加或减少miR-188-5p的表达,进一步观察miR-188-5p对MMP-13表达的影响。结果:TGF-β1诱导肾小球系膜细胞纤维化后miR-188-5p的表达明显升高,而MMP-13表达下调;报告基因实验表明miR-188-5p对MMP-13的表达有明显的调控作用,减少miR-188-5p的表达后MMP-13的表达上调,而增加miR-188-5p的表达后MMP-13的表达下调,呈明显负性调控。结论:在肾间质纤维化过程中,miR-188-5p可能通过抑制MMP-13的表达而发挥促纤维化的作用,本研究为肾间质纤维化的治疗提供了新的靶点。     

过氧化物酶体增长因子活化受体（PPARs）与microRNAs

在细胞中,过氧化物酶体增长因子活化受体（PPARs）和microRNAs相互制约和调控从而影响相关细胞、组织和器官的功能,在脂肪细胞分化与代谢、炎症、癌症和心血管疾病等生理和病理过程中发挥重要作用.本文首先简要总结了PPARs发挥作用的分子机制;并分别以PPARs家族每一个成员（PPARα、PPARβ和PPARγ）为对象,分析了PPARs调控下的microRNAs表达及功能,探讨了microRNAs调控下的PPARs表达活性变化,并归纳了PPARs与microRNAs之间的调控关系;最后对PPARs相关microRNAs的应用前景进行了简单探讨.研究PPARs与microRNAs间的网络调控关系,可以为PPARs与microRNAs在理论和实践中的深入研究和应用提供参考.     

microRNAs与流感病毒感染

MicroRNAs是一类数目庞大,而且可以广泛参与到生命活动各个进程的非编码RNA分子,在病毒感染宿主过程中存在着复杂的microRNAs与病毒的相互作用。流感病毒感染可以引起宿主microRNAs表达谱的明显变化,流感病毒能通过调控某些microRNAs的表达来实现免疫逃逸等增强其感染能力;同时,宿主也可以通过某些microRNAs的变化启动相应的抗流感病毒反应。本文主要针对流感病毒感染过程中宿主-病毒二者在microRNA水平的相互作用进行综述,以期更好的了解流感病毒的致病机制,为抗流感病毒的新药研制提供新的思路。     

肾间质纤维化相关信号通路的研究进展

肾间质纤维化是以正常的肾间质和肾小管结构被大量聚集的细胞外基质所替代为特征的病理过程,是多数慢性肾脏疾病进展为终末期肾衰竭共同的病变过程,其病理变化主要由多种细胞因子和多条信号通路控制,是众多关键信号通路的交互影响与共同作用的结果。深入了解信号通路的相互作用对进一步揭示肾间质纤维化的分子机制有重要意义。现综述肾间质纤维化病理变化中关键的信号通路,以期为肾间质纤维化分子机制的研究提供参考。     

骨桥蛋白调控上皮间质转化的研究进展

上皮间质转化(epithelial-mesenchymal transition,EMT)是指上皮细胞通过特定程序转化为具有间质细胞表型的生物学过程,被认为是器官纤维化及上皮源性恶性肿瘤发生与转移的启动环节。骨桥蛋白(osteopontin,OPN)为一种表达于体内多种组织及细胞的基质蛋白,目前研究显示OPN参与了组织器官的纤维化、上皮源性恶性肿瘤发生及转移,其作用的分子生物学基础可能与EMT相关。在此本文将对参与OPN调控EMT的相关信号途径进行简述,以期为临床通过调控OPN的表达或含量,改善组织器官纤维化,降低上皮源性恶性肿瘤转移及侵袭力提供分子生物学依据。     

TNFRSF13C 在单侧输尿管梗阻大鼠肾组织中的表达及其意义

目的：检测单侧输尿管梗阻（UUO）大鼠肾组织中B 细胞激活因子受体（TNFRSF13C）的表达变化,探讨其在肾间质纤维化 病变中的作用。方法：采用UUO法建立肾间质纤维化大鼠模型,20只成年雄性大鼠,随机分为4组,分别于术后0、3、7、14 天处死 大鼠。取左侧梗阻肾脏进行Masson染色,拍照后,采用双盲法评定各组肾小管间质纤维化程度。提取肾组织中总RNA,用实时荧 光定量聚合酶链反应（RT-PCR）法检测各组肾组织中TNFRSF13C基因表达情况。Pearson 检测TNFRSF13C表达量与肾小管间质 纤维化程度的相关性。结果：随着梗阻时间的延长,肾组织中TNFRSF13C 的mRNA 表达量进行性升高,与肾间质纤维化病变程 度一致,两者呈显著正相关（r=0.915,P<0.01）。结论：TNFRSF13C可能在肾间质纤维化病程中起到了重要作用,并有望成为慢性 肾脏病的临床监测指标。     

miRNA-26a靶向调控GSK-3β参与Wnt/β-catenin信号通路调节IgA肾病肾纤维化

目的:通过检测IgA肾病不同程度肾间质纤维化患者肾组织miRNA-26a、β-catenin、GSK-3β、α-SMA的表达,探究miRNA-26a通过靶向调控GSK-3β参与Wnt/β-catenin信号通路所致肾间质纤维化。方法:根据肾间质纤维化程度将46例IgA患者分为实验组(轻度组、中度组、重度组),对照组为7例肾脏肿瘤远离肿瘤组织的正常肾组织。采用RT-qPCR方法检测各实验组及正常对照组共53例IgA肾病患者肾组织miRNA-26a的表达水平,分析miRNA-26a与IgA肾病肾纤维化的关系。分别采用RT-qPCR技术及免疫组化技术检测各组肾组织β-catenin、GSK-3β、α-SMAmRNA及蛋白的表达水平,各组之间进行比较,并与miRNA-26a进行相关性分析。结果:(1)与正常对照组相比,IgA肾病患者肾活检组织miRNA-26a呈低表达,且随着肾间质病变程度加重,miRNA-26a表达水平显著降低,各组间差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);(2)与正常对照组比较,IgA肾病患者肾组织GSK-3β、β-catenin、α-SMAmRNA和蛋白的表达升高,且表达程度随着肾间质病变程度加重逐渐增强,各组间比较差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);(3)相关性分析:肾组织miRNA-26a与肾间质纤维化程度呈负相关(r=-0.943,P0.05),肾间质及肾小管GSK-3β、β-catenin、α-SMA的表达强度与肾间质纤维化程度正相关(r=0.917,P0.05;r=0.943,P0.05;r=0.926,P0.05),肾间质GSK-3β与β-catenin蛋白表达正相关(r=0.834,P0.05)。结论:miRNA-26a可通过靶向调控GSK-3β参与Wnt/β-catenin信号通路肾间质纤维化。     

Riboregulators in kidney development and function

The discovery of microRNAs has brought in another level of intricacy in gene regulation. These microRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that have dual ability to act as repressors or inducers of gene activity. MicroRNAs have been implicated in a wide spectrum of biological processes and their expressions have been found to be dysregulated in several diseases. Recently, microRNAs have emerged as a new area of interest in renal development and pathology. MicroRNA profilings have revealed a number of microRNAs that are specific to the kidney or restricted to certain regions of the organ suggesting possible exclusive roles therein. Recently, knockout studies have shown that these riboregulators are critical for normal renal growth and functional renal system. Individual microRNAs have also been identified in renal disease models including kidney cancers, diabetic nephropathy and polycystic kidney disease. Several mechanisms of modulating microRNA activity have also been introduced in recent years. Further progress in the understanding of microRNA activity, identification of microRNA signatures in different states as well as advancement of microRNA manipulation techniques will be valuable for kidney research.     

Identification and pathway analysis of microRNAs with no previous involvement in breast cancer

microRNA expression signatures can differentiate normal and breast cancer tissues and can define specific clinico-pathological phenotypes in breast tumors. In order to further evaluate the microRNA expression profile in breast cancer, we analyzed the expression of 667 microRNAs in 29 tumors and 21 adjacent normal tissues using TaqMan Low-density arrays. 130 miRNAs showed significant differential expression (adjusted P value = 0.05, Fold Change = 2) in breast tumors compared to the normal adjacent tissue. Importantly, the role of 43 of these microRNAs has not been previously reported in breast cancer, including several evolutionary conserved microRNA*, showing similar expression rates to that of their corresponding leading strand. The expression of 14 microRNAs was replicated in an independent set of 55 tumors. Bioinformatic analysis of mRNA targets of the altered miRNAs, identified oncogenes like ERBB2, YY1, several MAP kinases, and known tumor-suppressors like FOXA1 and SMAD4. Pathway analysis identified that some biological process which are important in breast carcinogenesis are affected by the altered microRNA expression, including signaling through MAP kinases and TP53 pathways, as well as biological processes like cell death and communication, focal adhesion and ERBB2-ERBB3 signaling. Our data identified the altered expression of several microRNAs whose aberrant expression might have an important impact on cancer-related cellular pathways and whose role in breast cancer has not been previously described.     

MicroRNAs: Potential biomarkers for cancer diagnosis,prognosis and targets for therapy

MicroRNAs have a revolutionary impact on cancer research over recent years. They emerge as important players in tumorigenesis, leading to a paradigm shift in oncology. The widespread and comprehensive use of microRNA microarrays has enabled the identification of a number of microRNAs as potential biomarkers for cancer. It is encouraging to report that microRNAs have remarkable stability in both formalin-fixed tissue and blood. Many microRNAs have been identified to act as oncogenes, tumor suppressors, or even modulators of cancer stem cells and metastasis. Some studies not only reported the identified microRNA biomarkers, but also deciphered their target genes and the underlying mechanisms. The rapid discovery of many microRNA targets and their relevant pathways has contributed to the development of microRNA-based therapeutics, but the developing progress of antisense or siRNA drugs has been hampered by stability, specificity and delivery problems. This review summarizes the most significant and latest findings of original researches on microRNAs involvement in cancer, focusing on the potential of cancer-related microRNAs as biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis and targets for therapy.     

miRNAs may play a major role in the control of gene expression in key pathobiological processes in Chagas disease cardiomyopathy

Chronic Chagas disease cardiomyopathy (CCC), an especially aggressive inflammatory dilated cardiomyopathy caused by lifelong infection with the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, is a major cause of cardiomyopathy in Latin America. Although chronic myocarditis may play a major pathogenetic role, little is known about the molecular mechanisms responsible for its severity. The aim of this study is to study the genes and microRNAs expression in tissues and their connections in regards to the pathobiological processes. To do so, we integrated for the first time global microRNA and mRNA expression profiling from myocardial tissue of CCC patients employing pathways and network analyses. We observed an enrichment in biological processes and pathways associated with the immune response and metabolism. IFNγ, TNF and NFkB were the top upstream regulators. The intersections between differentially expressed microRNAs and differentially expressed target mRNAs showed an enrichment in biological processes such as Inflammation, inflammation, Th1/IFN-γ-inducible genes, fibrosis, hypertrophy, and mitochondrial/oxidative stress/antioxidant response. MicroRNAs also played a role in the regulation of gene expression involved in the key cardiomyopathy-related processes fibrosis, hypertrophy, myocarditis and arrhythmia. Significantly, a discrete number of differentially expressed microRNAs targeted a high number of differentially expressed mRNAs (>20) in multiple processes. Our results suggest that miRNAs orchestrate expression of multiple genes in the major pathophysiological processes in CCC heart tissue. This may have a bearing on pathogenesis, biomarkers and therapy.